sententiously

American  

[sen-ten-shuhs-lee] / sɛnˈtɛn ʃəs li /

adverb

1. in the manner of a pithy saying or aphorism.

   “A camel is the only wealth that carries itself,” observed Digby sententiously.

2. in a way that is self-righteous or excessively moralizing.

   The novel is not sententiously written, but its lessons are clear and well taken.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsententiously
  adverb
• unsententiously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sententiously

sententious ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Chloe fervidly supports him, admitting that she — and her generation, she adds sententiously — “didn’t do enough. We stood by and watched it all happen.”

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2017

It’s to the movie’s credit that these themes aren’t sententiously signposted; they seem to spring organically from the characters’ words and actions, in no small part because of the contributions of the superb cast.

From Slate • Jan. 20, 2012

Although the stereotype imagines vegetarians sententiously screaming at any meat eater they see at the lunch counter or dinner table, I've found quite the opposite to be true.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2011

"Prison is a farce and a disaster," he declared sententiously.

From Time Magazine Archive

“And that,” put in the Director sententiously, “that is the secret of happiness and virtue—liking what you’ve got to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their unescapable social destiny.”

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley