sanctimonious

Definition

Making a show of being morally better than others, especially hypocritically pious.

Etymology

From sanctimony + -ous.

Example Sentences

• "Near-synonyms: smug; see also Thesaurus:arrogant"
• "Thou conclud'st like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandements, but scrap'd one out of the table."
• "[O]ne / Discuss'd his tutor, rough to common men / But honeying at the whisper of a lord; / And one the Master, as a rogue in grain / Veneer'd with sanctimonious theory."