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Glite Dictionary
pseudoreligious

pseudoreligious

9.4
Like a religion but only for show
  • adjective
  • /ˌsuːdroʊrɪˈdʒuːs/
translation icon : pseudoreligioso
  • Rather, these slogans, products of a twisted, pathological mentality, were given a kind of pseudoreligious veneer by Hitler and have led to the continuing demonization of the Germanic gods ("these myths are the source of the evil").

Examples

  • The charity's activities often seem to have a pseudoreligious aspect, drawing people in with emotional appeals rather than genuine faith.

  • Many political movements adopt pseudoreligious rhetoric to invoke deep emotional connections with their followers.

  • The group hosted a meeting that felt almost pseudoreligious, filled with chants and rituals but lacking true spiritual guidance.

Synonyms

pharisaical
vspseudoreligious
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Pretending to be morally better than other people

is about mere appearance rather than hypocritical piety
quasi-religious
vspseudoreligious
8.3

Showing very strong belief and feeling like worship

is only an appearance rather than genuinely religious

How Religious

devout
55 5.7
religious
∞ 2.7
pseudoreligious
9.4
secular
143 4.7

Surface Forms

pseudoreligious positive

Morphology

pseudoreligious = religious (transparent) = pseudo + religion + ous

The meaning is directly compositional: 'pseudo-' signals false or seeming, and 'religious' supplies the religious base.

Etymology

Pseudoreligious puts together pseudo- meaning 'false' or 'not real' and religious. So, it describes something that looks like a religion but is not truly religious.