self-righteous

[self-rahy-chuhs, self-]

adjective

1. confident of one's own righteousness, especially when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others.

   Synonyms: pharisaical, sanctimonious

self-righteous

adjective

1. having or showing an exaggerated awareness of one's own virtuousness or rights

Other Word Forms

• self-righteously adverb
• self-righteousness noun
• unself-righteous adjective
• unself-righteously adverb
• unself-righteousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-righteous¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Related Words

• complacent 
• egotistical www.thesaurus.com
• hypocritical 
• pious 
• sanctimonious