From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsanctimonioussanc‧ti‧mo‧ni‧ous /ˌsæŋktəˈməʊniəs◂ $ -ˈmoʊ-/ adjective formal GOOD/MORALbehaving as if you are morally better than other people, in a way that is annoying – used to show disapproval SYN self-righteous sanctimonious politicians preaching about family values —sanctimoniously adverb —sanctimoniousness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
sanctimonious• I was about to say, Harry, that I was accused by some friends last night of being sanctimonious.• The Principal reacted to the school party with an air of sanctimonious disapproval.• Don't be so sanctimonious Helen! I'll live my life the way I want to live it.• There was considerable pressure for actions against them from a sanctimonious middle class, some of whose members held extraordinary delusions.• She is also a splendid contrast to the noble-minded and sanctimonious Mrs. Jervis.• Nowadays he is a sanctimonious old man seemingly unaware of his own involvement in the problems of his family.• That was a false and sanctimonious puritanism, such as had dogged the Inquisitor's own youth.• Many sanctimonious speeches were made about the need for honesty in government.• I wonder what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first for the first time in his life?• Moodie looked sanctimonious whilst Scawsby could hardly hide his crows of triumph.Origin sanctimonious (1600-1700) sanctimony “sanctimoniousness” ((16-21 centuries)), from Latin sanctimonia “holiness”, from sanctus; → SAINT 