Pharisaic
or Phar·i·sa·i·cal
[far-uh-sey-ik or far-uh-sey-i-kuh l]
- of or relating to the Pharisees.
- (lowercase) practicing or advocating strict observance of external forms and ceremonies of religion or conduct without regard to the spirit; self-righteous; hypocritical.
Show More
Origin of Pharisaic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
affectedartificialassumingblandcantingcaptiousdeceptivedoubledouble-dealingduplicitousfaithlessfishyfraudulentglibhollowinsincereleft-handedlyingoilyPecksniffianExamples from the Web for pharisaical
Historical Examples
We forgive his insight, because there is nothing in it Pharisaical.
A Writer's Recollections (In Two Volumes), Volume IIMrs. Humphry Ward
There was a smirk of pharisaical satisfaction on their faces.
My New CurateP.A. Sheehan
But he was too honest not to detect almost at once his own Pharisaical, un-Christlike spirit.
We TwoEdna Lyall
"Obvious from your pharisaical expression, perhaps," he said good-naturedly.
What shall be done to remove their noble and pharisaical indolence?
Mysterious Psychic ForcesCamille Flammarion
Pharisaic
Pharisaical
- Judaism of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pharisees or Pharisaism
- (often not capital) righteously hypocritical
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pharisaical
pharisaic
adj.
1610s, from Church Latin pharisaicus, from Greek pharisaikos, from pharisaios (see Pharisee). Related: Pharisaical (1530s).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper