pharisaical

adjective

Definition of pharisaicalnext
as in moralistic

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pharisaical Although he was noted for being supremely humble, our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, took strong antagonistic grounds against harsh pharisaical doctrine. — Jan Keeler Vincent, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pharisaical
  1. moralistic
  2. sanctimonious
  3. pious
  4. hypocritical
  5. self-righteous
  6. holier-than-thou
  7. insincere
  8. unctuous
Adjective
  • Navy excels at untangling human emotions and picking through them without being didactic or moralistic.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
  • Last year, a YouTube channel called Akhbar Enfejari (Explosive News) began posting a variety of digital content with a political and moralistic bent.
    — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of moralistic
Adjective
  • There are few things in this world more sanctimonious and hypocritical than left-wing sportswriters getting on their faux moral high horse.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
  • That’s when the movie takes a direction that’s both maudlin in the true sense of the word and ultimately even sanctimonious regarding the heroine’s sudden redemption.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Definition of sanctimonious
Adjective
  • Others regard the unum as a pious myth.
    — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • However, this distinction did more than pit pious Americans against an atheist enemy.
    — David Williamson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
Definition of pious
Adjective
  • Or means that any comments are supposedly hypocritical.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
  • Earlier this month, Matsui’s campaign came after Vang for taking corporate donations from Sacramento-area businesses during her city council campaigns, implying that Vang’s vows to not accept money from corporate PACs in her congressional bid is hypocritical.
    — Mathew Miranda June 4, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Definition of hypocritical
Adjective
  • Yet, the most grating new addition is a self-righteous student named Dei Meeks (Sydney Park), who polices the humor.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
  • Democrats who want to be self-righteous about their MAGA relatives, or sit back in their plush armchairs and diagnose Biden as being senile and blame his aides for hiding it, need to wake up.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026
Definition of self-righteous
Adjective
  • But there’s a line between analysis and holier-than-thou bloviation.
    — Mara Reinstein, HollywoodReporter, 24 Nov. 2025
  • WalletHub made sure that no state walked away feeling entirely holier-than-thou.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2025
Definition of holier-than-thou
Adjective
  • Not everyone believes, however, that the line is insincere.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • And so, open door policies rarely fail because leaders are insincere.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Definition of insincere
Adjective
  • The unctuous and sweet char siu pork jowl is interspersed with green apple pressed with lime and ginger for a bright and crisp counter to the fatty pig.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
  • Made with the unctuous 8-percent-fat milk of the water buffalo—animals that may have arrived in the area via the Normans by way of Sicily, or perhaps by the Goths coming from Central Asia—buffalo mozzarella has been produced at least since the twelfth century.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Definition of unctuous

Browse Nearby Words

pharaonic
pharisaical
pharmaceutical
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Cite this Entry

“Pharisaical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pharisaical. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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