hypocrite
[ hip-uh-krit ]
/ ˈhɪp ə krɪt /
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noun
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.
SYNONYMS FOR hypocrite
VIDEO FOR HYPOCRITE
WATCH NOW: Why Was "Hypocrite" Originally Used To Describe Actors?
Find out why this theater teacher loves to call his students "hypocrites" ... he's a good teacher, we swear!
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
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
OTHER WORDS FROM hypocrite
hyp·o·crit·i·cal, adjectivesu·per·hyp·o·crite, nounWords nearby hypocrite
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for hypocrite
British Dictionary definitions for hypocrite
hypocrite
/ (ˈhɪpəkrɪt) /
noun
a person who pretends to be what he is not
Derived forms of hypocrite
hypocritical, adjectivehypocritically, adverbWord Origin for hypocrite
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
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