sanctimony

[ sangk-tuh-moh-nee ]

noun

1. pretended, affected, or hypocritical religious devotion, righteousness, etc.
2. Obsolete. sanctity; sacredness.

Other Words From

• non·sancti·mony noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanctimony¹

First recorded in 1530–40, sanctimony is from the Latin word sānctimōnia holiness. See Sanctus, -mony

Example Sentences

On a surface level, this pairing of Trump's open disregard for basic marital morality with Vance's sanctimony is just an extension of the larger incoherence that characterizes this year's Republican National Convention.

From Salon

When you're writing about topics this raw it's easy to slip into humourless sanctimony, but Walker's music is located in compassion, always finding nuggets of hope and happiness in the darkness.

From BBC

It's the revenge of the mediocre, to paint sincere concern about the world as sanctimony.

From Salon

He carried his profound decency very lightly without a hint of sanctimony.

From BBC

It’s hard to come to terms with the fatuous sanctimony of Romney’s argument.

From Los Angeles Times