sanctimonious
Adjective
Hard difficulty
What does “sanctimonious” mean?
adjective.making a show of being morally superior to other people.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in passages discussing themes of morality, hypocrisy, or social criticism, highlighting characters who feign virtue while condemning others. It emphasizes an insincere or self-righteous attitude, distinguishing it from similar words like "pious," which may not carry the same negative connotation of pretentiousness or deceit.
Common Confusions
Sanctimonious implies a hypocritical display of moral superiority, while pious usually suggests a genuine devotion to religious or moral principles without the same insincere undertone.
Do not choose sanctimonious if the context emphasizes genuine humility or selflessness rather than making a show of being morally superior to other people.
Example Sentences
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His sanctimonious tone suggested he believed he was morally superior.