self-righteous
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-righteous
First recorded in 1670–80
Explanation
A self-righteous person thinks their beliefs and morals are better than everyone else's. If you're quite sure the charity of others pales in comparison with yours, you might be self-righteous. Join the Old English words self, meaning "one's own person," and rightwise, meaning "virtuous," and you've got somebody who thinks very highly of their own morality. A self-righteous person thinks they can do no wrong, and goes about with a "holier-than-thou" attitude, judging and scrutinizing everyone else. A fur designer may view PETA activists as self-righteous when they picket his fashion show. You may consider a friend self-righteous when it comes to musical taste.
Vocabulary lists containing self-righteous
The Great Gilly Hopkins
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Divergent
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Self-righteous when it came to his medication regimen, I paid scant attention to my own mixed compliance record.
From Washington Post • Jun. 11, 2021
Self-righteous hypocrites really have no business judging the behavior of others.
From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2018
Self-righteous anger is an excuse not to even try to persuade.
From The Guardian • Dec. 27, 2017
Self-righteous and bombastic as he has become in recent years, I have never seen him—I have never imagined him—huffing and puffing with such fire and brimstone.
From Slate • Jul. 19, 2016
O Jonathan, Jonathan! vassal of pelf, Self-righteous, self-glorious, yes, every inch self, Your loyalty now is all bluster and boast, But was dumb when the foemen invaded our coast.
From Songs and Ballads of the Southern People 1861-1865 by Anonymous
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
