Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)

self-righteous

[ self-rahy-ch_uh_s, 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

adjective

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

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Derived Forms

• ˌself-ˈrighteousness, noun
• ˌself-ˈrighteously, adverb

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Other Words From

• self-righteous·ly adverb
• self-righteous·ness noun
• unself-righteous adjective
• unself-righteous·ly adverb
• unself-righteous·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

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Example Sentences

I don’t want to be self-righteous; we all make compromises.

The conservative commentators’ vitriol is oddly cloaked in a self-righteous insistence that they are exposing some deep dark secret of Tim Walz and therefore on a bizarre level, supposedly protecting children or the disabled.

She can come across as self-righteous, judgmental and at times naïve.

Or maybe the grouchy, standoffish, self-righteous pain in the butt is a character that resonates in Denmark.

Simply asking the question "Am I a self-righteous psychedelic narcissist?" is enough of an answer.