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Definition of hypocritical

hypocritical

/ˌhɪp.əˈkrɪt.ɪ.kəl/
hyp · o · crit · i · cal
Adverb:hypocritically
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hypocritical Lexical Profile

hypocritical Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Behaving in a way that contradicts one's stated beliefs, moral standards, or virtues; characterized by false appearances of virtue or sincerity.

Example

"It was hypocritical of the manager to demand punctuality from his staff while arriving late every morning himself."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for hypocritical

• Rhymes for hypocritical

• Nearby Words

hypochondriac
hypocrisy
hypocrite
hypocritical
hypocritically
hypocriticalness
hypodermic

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Ancient Greek 'hypokritikos' (acting a part or pretending), from 'hypokrites' (a stage actor, and later a pretender), which literally meant 'an interpreter from underneath' in reference to actors speaking from behind theatrical masks.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hypocritical. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hypocritical
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