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Glite Dictionary
😏 Hypocritically moral 😏 A hypocrite
tartuffian

tartuffian

9.9
A person who pretends to be moral but is not
  • noun
  • /tɑrˈtʌf.i.ən/
  • Offensive
translation icon : fariseo
  • The politician was often criticized as a tartuffian because his actions did not match his speeches about integrity.

Examples

  • Many in the community saw her as a tartuffian for preaching kindness while ignoring those in need.

  • Act IV brings the complete deconstruction of the Tartuffian ideology as far as Orgon's perceptions are concerned.

    Academic text (1990)

  • The Tartuffian ideology has been scripturalized and institutionalized in written, official texts, and is thus an ideology with both religious and political/legal dimensions.

    Academic text (1990)

  • His tartuffian behavior was evident when he condemned others for lying while he himself was dishonest.

Synonyms

fraud
vstartuffian
  • Offensive
160 4.4

A person who pretends to be something they are not to trick others

refers specifically to pretending moral or religious virtues rather than general deceit
hypocrite
vstartuffian
  • Offensive
150 5.6

A person who says they have good morals but does not follow them

has identical meaning but is the more literary or specific term
phony
vstartuffian
  • Offensive
73 6.2

A person who pretends to have feelings or beliefs to deceive others

is used for pretending moral or religious virtues rather than general falseness
pretender
vstartuffian
7 7.1

A person who acts friendly or helpful but does not really feel that way

focuses specifically on pretending moral or religious virtues instead
double-dealer
vstartuffian
  • Offensive
1 8.5

A person who pretends to be a friend but secretly works against others

centres on pretending moral or religious goodness rather than general duplicity
Tartuffe
vstartuffian
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who pretends to be very religious to get money or power

is the general term rather than a name from a play
Tartufe
vstartuffian
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who pretends to be very religious to hide bad behavior

is the broad label for such religiously pretended virtue
pharisee
vstartuffian
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who pretends to be morally better but is not sincere

is broader and applies to any pretending of moral virtue

How Hypocritical

tartuffian
  • Offensive
9.9
hypocrite
  • Offensive
150 5.6
poser
  • Offensive
26 8.0

Surface Forms

tartuffian singular
tartuffians plural

Morphology

tartuffian = Tartuffe (opaque) = Tartuffe + ian

Derived from the proper name 'Tartuffe' with '-ian' to mean a person like Tartuffe; this relies on literary knowledge and is not transparent to average learners.

Etymology

Tartuffian comes from Tartuffe, the false religious man in a well-known play by Molière, and his name turned into a word for a person who 'pretends to be moral' but really is a hypocrite.