Definitions

hypocritical

[hip-uh-krit-i-kuhl] / ˌhɪp əˈkrɪt ɪ kəl /

ADJECTIVE

deceitful, pretending

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deceptive duplicitous false insincere sanctimonious self-righteous unnatural

WEAK

affected artificial assuming bland canting captious caviling deluding dissembling double double-dealing faithless feigning fishy fraudulent glib hollow jivey left-handed lying moralistic oily pharisaical phony pietistic pious smooth smooth-spoken smooth-tongued snide specious spurious two-faced unctuous unreliable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forthright frank genuine honest humble open real truthful

WEAK

actual authentic just reliable righteous sincere upright

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.

"That raises an eyebrow about this from the American embassy. Hypocritical really."

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2025

Conway also tweeted a link to the video and said: "Make America Not Hypocritical."

From Fox News • Jan. 9, 2020

“Pay attention when you walk on the street,” wrote Hypocritical Human.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2010

Olympics team and an outspoken critic of Brundage, likes to don her skis to demonstrate the "Hypocritical Position" �knees bent and right arm extended backward with the hand cupped to receive "the under-the-table payments."

From Time Magazine Archive

Hypocritical professions of friendship and of pacific intentions were not spared.

From The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 3 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

Vocabulary lists containing hypocritical

"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

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"The Tell-Tale Heart," Vocabulary from the short story

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Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"

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