hypocritical

[hip-uh-krit-i-kuhl] / ˌhɪp əˈkrɪt ɪ kəl /

ADJECTIVE

deceitful, pretending

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deceptive duplicitous false insincere sanctimonious self-righteous unnatural

WEAK

affected artificial assuming bland canting captious caviling deluding dissembling double double-dealing faithless feigning fishy fraudulent glib hollow jivey left-handed lying moralistic oily pharisaical phony pietistic pious smooth smooth-spoken smooth-tongued snide specious spurious two-faced unctuous unreliable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forthright frank genuine honest humble open real truthful

WEAK

actual authentic just reliable righteous sincere upright

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Lee Symonds, of the Artificial Grass Company Norfolk and Suffolk, said calls for plastic grass to be banned were somewhat hypocritical.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

It’s always difficult to make a series or film that explores the pressures of fame and media-fed public interest without seeming hypocritical.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Why you should let it fade: While the film’s premise is novel and the franchise is known for its big swings, the very existence of “Toy Story 5” feels too hypocritical.

From Salon • Jan. 4, 2026

In 2018, Bardot also dismissed actresses who commented on sexual harassment via the #MeToo movement as "hypocritical, ridiculous, uninteresting".

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

Richard wanted to say something about her disloyalty to her friend and then realized how hypocritical it would sound, even if only to himself.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Vocabulary lists containing hypocritical

"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

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"The Tell-Tale Heart," Vocabulary from the short story

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Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"

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