hypocritical

[ hip-uh-krit-i-kuhl ]

/ ˌhɪp əˈkrɪt ɪ kəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for hypocritical on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of the nature of hypocrisy, or pretense of having virtues, beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually possess: The parent who has a “do what I say and not what I do” attitude can appear hypocritical to a child.

possessing the characteristics of hypocrisy: Isn't a politician hypocritical for talking about human dignity while voting against reasonable social programs?

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

OTHER WORDS FROM hypocritical

hyp·o·crit·i·cal·ly, adverbun·hyp·o·crit·i·cal, adjectiveun·hyp·o·crit·i·cal·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hypocritical

hypercritical, hypocritical

Words nearby hypocritical

hypocoristic, hypocotyl, hypocrinism, hypocrisy, hypocrite, hypocritical, hypocrystalline, hypocycloid, hypoderm, hypoderma, hypodermic

How to use hypocritical in a sentence

Just as it was hypocritical for Newsom to attend that dinner party, it’s hypocritical to claim that people know to social distance and to insist you follow the science while hosting indoor holiday parties.
McEnany has mastered the ‘all of the credit, none of the blame’ approach to the pandemic|Philip Bump|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
“It seems hypocritical to throw him into the fire when we’ve been putting up with so much worse,” Brandon Barber, 32, an unaffiliated voter who works in finance and served as an Army medic in Iraq, said of Cunningham.
In N.C., voters call Cunningham’s infidelity reckless, shocking. They still vote for the Democrat.|Rachael Bade, Pam Kelley|October 21, 2020|Washington Post
It’s hypocritical if he expects the population to be able to do that, because the task force he constituted is recommending it, yet he’s not doing it.
Trump and his top aides have stopped wearing masks after a brief effort|Rachel Schallom|September 3, 2020|Fortune
Being hypocritical and miserly are what Falwell is being roasted for.
Who Among Us Has Not Seduced the Pool Boy?|Eugene Robinson|August 30, 2020|Ozy

If they don’t, DTC startups risk coming across as hypocritical if they try to market themselves as championing diversity, inclusion and transparency, but customers learn their retail employees had a different experience.
By being too customer-obsessed, DTC startups are failing their retail employees|Anna Hensel|August 21, 2020|Digiday
“They are hypocritical on this very issue,” Shearer said about Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and other public officials.
Harry Shearer on The Dangerous Business of Satire|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Similarly, the shocking demand among some Republicans for greater action—for ground troops, even—is equally hypocritical.
Will the House GOP Stop the War on ISIS?|Michael Tomasky|September 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The double standard of sexualization is hypocritical at best and ineffectively vindictive at worse.
Full Frontal Disney: Feminism's Nudity Double Standard|Emily Shire|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, the hypocritical pageants that rejected her continue to see their cultural relevance—and TV ratings—decline.
Miss America Hypocrisy: The Vanessa Williams Nude Photo Shaming|Amanda Marcotte|July 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On spending and economic issues, he was atrocious and hypocritical in all the ways that a Republican can be.
Now Let’s Replace All the Other Big-Spending Eric Cantors|Nick Gillespie|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
God rejects the hypocritical fasts of the Jews: recommends works of mercy, and sincere godliness.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Pope-holy; properly an adjective, meaning 'holy as a pope,' hence, hypocritical.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
He even joined with some show of interest (of course hypocritical) in the conversation.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
Calvin gave birth, by the sternness of his doctrines and his executions, to that form of hypocritical sentiment called "cant."
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac
The hypocritical ceremony continued some time, when the warriors began talking among themselves.
The Life of Kit Carson|Edward S. Ellis