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Pharisee-like

Pharisee-like

9.9
Showing false moral pride and judging others harshly
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɛrəˌsiːˌlaɪk/
  • Offensive
translation icon : farisaico
  • People were uncomfortable with his Pharisee-like insistence on moral perfection.

Examples

  • Don't be so Pharisee-like in your judgments of others!

  • Her Pharisee-like behavior made her unpopular among her colleagues.

  • He adopted a Pharisee-like tone, lecturing everyone about their faults.

  • His Pharisee-like attitude makes it hard for others to connect with him.

  • His Pharisee-like attitude made it difficult for others to speak freely around him.

  • She often offered Pharisee-like critiques of our work while failing to acknowledge her own mistakes.

  • Many politicians adopt a Pharisee-like persona, preaching virtue while engaging in corrupt practices.

Synonyms

hypocritical
vsPharisee-like
83 6.1

Acting like you have strong moral rules when you do not follow them

adds strong moral superiority and outward judgment to that insincerity
self-righteous
vsPharisee-like
55 7.8

Thinking you are better than other people about right and wrong and judging them

is more insincere and often openly judgmental of others
sanctimonious
vsPharisee-like
23 8.5

Acting as if you are morally better than other people

focuses more on insincere superiority and harsh judgment
preachy
vsPharisee-like
  • Informal
11 6.8

Giving moral advice in a boring, bossy way

is harsher and more hypocritically judgmental rather than merely tedious
holier-than-thou
vsPharisee-like
  • Offensive
5 8.7

Acting as if morally better than other people

is more hypocritical and judgmental rather than merely proud
goody-goody
vsPharisee-like
  • Offensive
2 8.2

Behaving as if you are better than others to show you are good

is more hypocritical and condemnatory rather than only smug
pharisaical
vsPharisee-like
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Pretending to be morally better than other people

is the broader idea of insincere moral superiority and judgmental attitude
pharisaic
vsPharisee-like
  • Offensive
9.9

Pretending to be morally better while judging others

is the broader idea of insincere moral superiority and judgmental attitude
pietistic
vsPharisee-like
9.9

Pretending to be very religious to seem morally better than others

is broader, applying to general moral self righteousness beyond religion
pietistical
vsPharisee-like
9.9

Showing false religious feeling to seem very religious

is wider, referring to insincere moral superiority not only religion

Antonyms

156 3.2

Truly felt and not fake, for example a smile or apology

81 2.7

Not thinking you are better than others and not boasting

How Self-Righteous

Pharisee-like
  • Offensive
9.9
sanctimonious
23 8.5
judgmental
  • US
99 4.6
pious
37 6.3
humble
222 2.8

Surface Forms

Pharisee-like positive

Morphology

Pharisee-like = Pharisee (semi-transparent) = Pharisee + like

Formed by the productive suffix '-like' attached to 'Pharisee', but the evaluative meaning ('hypocritically self-righteous') depends on cultural/biblical knowledge of what a 'Pharisee' represents.

Etymology

Pharisee-like comes from the Pharisees, a group in the Bible who were known for strict rule‑keeping and for judging others. So to call someone Pharisee-like is to say they act 'morally superior' or judge others in a way that is not sincere.