holier-than-thou

[ hoh-lee-er-thuhn-thou ]

adjective

1. obnoxiously pious; sanctimonious; self-righteous.

noun

1. a person who is obnoxiously pious or self-righteous.

Word History and Origins

Origin of holier-than-thou¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

“It’s like a milkshake gone bad. I don’t like holier-than-thou people. I hate that.”

From Los Angeles Times

I like that Shetty doesn’t approach his work from a holier-than-thou perspective — his general vibe seems to be, This is what worked for me, and if you want to try it, cool.

From Los Angeles Times

The appeal of “Unholy” comes from the way it wags a lusty finger at holier-than-thou puritanism and presents queerness as the basis of aesthetic liberation.

From New York Times

Longtime friends lauded Hartmire’s ability to weave his community into social justice causes without coming across as holier-than-thou.

From Los Angeles Times

“And for someone so holier-than-thou on reducing emissions, Buttigieg sure doesn’t seem to mind the pollution caused by his literal jet-setting,” Ms. Sutherland said.

From Washington Times