Basic Details
Word: Sanctimonious
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Pretending to be morally better than others; showing a false sense of righteousness.
Synonyms: Hypocritical, self-righteous, pious
Antonyms: Sincere, humble, genuine
Idioms and Phrases
- Sanctimonious attitude: Acting in a way that suggests one is morally superior to others. Example: "Her sanctimonious attitude towards our choices made the discussion very tense."
- Preach to the choir: To express an opinion to people who already agree with you, especially in a sanctimonious way. Example: "He always preaches to the choir when talking about his philanthropy; everyone already admires him."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The sanctimonious remarks he made about the environment fell flat when people learned he drove a gas-guzzling car.
Example 2: Even though she spoke sanctimoniously about helping the needy, her actions showed she was more interested in her image.
Example 3: His sanctimonious behaviour during the charity event annoyed other attendees, who felt he was trying to show off.
Fun Fact
The word "sanctimonious" comes from the Latin word "sanctus," meaning "holy," and "monere," meaning "to warn." It reflects how some people may act holy or virtuous while actually being quite the opposite.
Famous Quote
"The sanctimonious are always the first to judge others, but they themselves are often not as virtuous as they claim." Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "sanctimonious" mean?
a) Truly humble
b) Pretending to be morally superior
c) Extremely generous
d) Very joyful
Answer: b) Pretending to be morally superior
2. Which of these is a synonym of "sanctimonious"?
a) Sincere
b) Hypocritical
c) Carefree
d) Friendly
Answer: b) Hypocritical
3. What is an antonym of "sanctimonious"?
a) Humble
b) Overconfident
c) Arrogant
d) Pretentious
Answer: a) Humble
4. Which sentence uses "sanctimonious" correctly?
a) The sanctimonious teacher encouraged students to steal answers.
b) His sanctimonious speech about honesty made everyone uncomfortable.
c) She made a sanctimonious cake for the party.
d) The sanctimonious dog barked at the mailman.
Answer: b) His sanctimonious speech about honesty made everyone uncomfortable.
5. What does it mean to "preach to the choir"?
a) To argue with people who disagree with you
b) To express views to those who already agree
c) To sing songs in a church
d) To lecture people about music
Answer: b) To express views to those who already agree
