hypocrisy
noun
hy·poc·ri·sy
hi-ˈpä-krə-sē 
also hī-
plural hypocrisies
1
: a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel
His hypocrisy was finally revealed with the publication of his private letters.
especially
: the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
our conventional morality often serves as a cover for hypocrisy and selfishness —
Lucius Garvin
Lucius Garvin 2
: an act or instance of hypocrisy
a keen awareness of one's parents' hypocrisies
Synonyms
Examples of hypocrisy in a Sentence
When his private letters were made public, they revealed his hypocrisy.
the hypocrisy of people who say one thing but do another
Teenagers often have a keen awareness of their parents' hypocrisies.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Pax Americana was ever imperfect and to many people in the world, from Vietnam to Iraq, smacked of hypocrisy.
—Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Later questions twist the knife even further, delving into white-guy hypocrisy around Black Lives Matter.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
China has issued a strong rebuke to the United States, accusing it of hypocrisy over espionage following recent Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) efforts to recruit Chinese informants.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
The borderline hypocrisy plays as more self-serving than self-aware.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hypocrisy 
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Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Later questions twist the knife even further, delving into white-guy hypocrisy around Black Lives Matter.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
China has issued a strong rebuke to the United States, accusing it of hypocrisy over espionage following recent Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) efforts to recruit Chinese informants.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
The borderline hypocrisy plays as more self-serving than self-aware.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hypocrisy
Dictionary Entries Near hypocrisy
Cite this Entry
“Hypocrisy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocrisy. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hypocrisy
noun
hy·poc·ri·sy
hip-ˈäk-rə-sē
plural hypocrisies
: behavior that does not agree with what one claims to believe or feel
the hypocrisy of people who say one thing and do another
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