hypocrite
[hip-uh-krit]
- a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
- a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.
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Origin of hypocrite
1175–1225; Middle English ipocrite < Old French < Late Latin hypocrita < Greek hypokritḗs a stage actor, hence one who pretends to be what he is not, equivalent to hypokrī́(nesthai) (see hypocrisy) + -tēs agent suffix
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
bigot, trickster, impostor, phony, crook, charlatan, cheat, faker, hook, fake, decoy, actor, mountebank, informer, pretender, malingerer, poser, quack, humbug, fraudExamples from the Web for hypocrite
Contemporary Examples
Does wildlife campaigner Prince Charles's hunting habit make him a hypocrite?
Prince Charles Photographed Shooting, Charges of Animal Cruelty and Royal Hypocrisy ReignitedTom Sykes
December 1, 2014
Arkansas Congressman Tom Cotton is a dangerous man and a hypocrite.
Therefore, if a liberal makes too much money advocating on behalf of the poor, she or he becomes a hypocrite.
Your criticism of me as a hypocrite is lame, weak and not really thought out.
Spike Lee Blasts The New York Times’ Story on Brooklyn Gentrification in Fiery Op-EdMarlow Stern
March 31, 2014
If not, you'll be seen as a hypocrite and as a known Christian, heap shame on the Gospel.
Conservative Christians Selectively Apply Biblical Teachings in the Same-Sex Marriage DebateKirsten Powers, Jonathan Merritt
February 23, 2014
Historical Examples
As she said all this, Hester felt like a hypocrite, remembering her own sins.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Every good deed that he has done is denounced as the act of a hypocrite.
Henry DunbarM. E. Braddon
I will do the fellow the justice to say that he was not a hypocrite.
Beauty and The Beast, and Tales From HomeBayard Taylor
Every one who is not a hypocrite will own that it is exactly the contrary.
The Sexual QuestionAugust Forel
Please don't be a hypocrite any more, Jimmy, if you can help it.
People of PositionStanley Portal Hyatt
hypocrite
- a person who pretends to be what he is not
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French ipocrite, via Late Latin, from Greek hupokritēs one who plays a part, from hupokrinein to feign, from krinein to judge
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for hypocrite
n.
c.1200, ypocrite, from Old French ypocrite (12c., Modern French hypocrite), from Church Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokrites "stage actor, pretender, dissembler," from hypokrinesthai (see hypocrisy).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper