holier-than-thou
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for holier-than-thou, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Behaving as though you are morally better than everyone else, in a way others find smug and irritating.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to Use Holier-Than-Thou
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Informal and always critical. Common in journalism, reviews and argument.
Etymology
From a phrase in the Book of Isaiah, in which a speaker tells another 'I am holier than thou'; thou is the archaic singular you.
Full origin of holier-than-thou →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between holier-than-thou and self-righteous?
They overlap almost completely. Self-righteous focuses on being convinced you are right; holier-than-thou emphasises the comparison — the sense that you are looking down on others. Holier-than-thou is also the more scornful and more informal of the two.
Is holier-than-thou always an insult?
Effectively yes. Nobody describes their own attitude that way. It is used to criticise someone for moralising, and it says more about how they come across than about whether they are actually right.