Meaning & Definition of word "Hypocritical"
Hypocritical
/ˌhɪpəˈkrɪtɪkl/
adjective:
- 1. characterized by hypocrisy; professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or practice.
- Example: His hypocritical stance on environmental issues was evident when he refused to reduce his own carbon footprint.
- 2. being false or deceptive about one's morals or values.
- Example: The politician's hypocritical actions were exposed when it was revealed that he often voted against the very policies he claimed to support.
- 3. insincere or pretending to have qualities or beliefs that one does not truly possess.
- Example: She found it hypocritical when her friend criticized others for being late, despite often being tardy herself.
- 4. showing a disparity between what is said and what is done.
- Example: His hypocritical remarks about honesty lost credibility after he was caught lying.
Etymology
●From Greek hypokrites, meaning 'actor' or 'stage player', derived from hypokrinesthai, meaning 'to answer, to interpret' or 'to play a part'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
do as I say, not as I do:
A phrase used to describe a situation where someone doesn't follow their own advice.
holier than thou:
Believing oneself to be more moral or virtuous than others, often hypocritically.
double standards:
Applying different sets of principles for similar situations, often hypocritically.
Related Words
hypocrisy:
The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.
hypocrite:
A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that they do not actually possess.
Slang Meanings of hypocritical
Meaning: Phony
● Example Sentence: He's such a phony; he acts all nice but talks behind everyone’s back.
Meaning: Fake
● Example Sentence: Don't listen to her; she's just being fake about her concerns.