Dictionary

sanctimonious

adjective sanc·ti·mo·nious \ˌsaŋ(k)-tə-ˈmō-nē-əs, -nyəs\

: pretending to be morally better than other people

Full Definition of SANCTIMONIOUS

1
:  hypocritically pious or devout <a sanctimonious moralist> <the king's sanctimonious rebuke — G. B. Shaw>
2
obsolete :  possessing sanctity :  holy
sanc·ti·mo·nious·ly adverb
sanc·ti·mo·nious·ness noun
ADVERTISEMENT

First Known Use of SANCTIMONIOUS

1603

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: sanctimonyPrevious Word in the Dictionary: sanctimonialAll Words Near: sanctimonious
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears