hypocrite
[ hip-uh-krit ]
/ ˈhɪp ə krɪt /
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.
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
CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THIS FUN HIGH SCHOOL STORIES VOCAB QUIZ!
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Question 1 of 10
sheathing
the act of a person who encloses something in or as if in a casing or covering
a school giving instruction in one or more of the fine or dramatic arts
a comic character, usually masked, dressed in multicolored, diamond-patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT 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 FOR hypocrite
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. 2020
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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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