Basic Details
Word: Hypocrite
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A person who says one thing but does another, or who pretends to have good beliefs or habits they do not really have.
Synonyms: pretender, fraud, deceiver
How to Spell Hypocrite
Syllables: hyp - o - crite
Tricky part: It starts with hyp, not hip, and ends in crite, not crit or crate.
Watch out for: hipocrite, hypocrit, hypocrate
Memory tip: Split it as hypo + crite and think of a critic: a hypocrite criticises others for what he does himself.
Usage Examples
Example 1: He called his brother a hypocrite for asking everyone to save water while taking long showers.
Example 2: No one wants to be seen as a hypocrite, so practise what you preach.
Example 3: The leader's speech on honesty made him look like a hypocrite after the scandal.
Fun Fact
In ancient Greek, hypokrites meant an actor on the stage; a hypocrite is someone playing a part in real life.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Choose the correct letters to fill in the blanks:
hyp_cr_te
a) o, a
b) o, i
c) i, i
d) a, i
Show answer
b) o, i. The word is hypo + crite, with o in the middle and i before the final te.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word hypocrite as used in the sentence:
The minister who lectured on saving fuel was called a hypocrite when he was seen in a convoy of ten cars.
a) volunteer
b) pretender
c) patriot
d) critic
Show answer
b) pretender. He pretended to care about fuel while wasting it, which makes him a pretender.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Nobody likes a tieprcyho who scolds others for being late but always turns up an hour late himself.
a) heretic
b) hypocrite
c) hypnotist
d) hypocrisy
Show answer
b) hypocrite. There is no s in the letters, so hypocrisy is out, and the sentence describes a person: a hypocrite.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The noun for what a hypocrite shows is ____.
a) hypocrisy
b) hypocritism
c) hypocriteness
d) hypocrasy
Show answer
a) hypocrisy
2. Which person is acting like a hypocrite?
a) a student who asks for help
b) a teacher who keeps her phone switched off
c) a coach who trains with the team
d) a teacher who bans phones but uses hers in class
Show answer
d) a teacher who bans phones but uses hers in class
