self-righteous
6 synonyms and 3 antonyms for self-righteous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Convinced of your own moral superiority, and making it plain in a way others find insufferable.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use self-righteous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
self-righteous tone
self-righteous anger
insufferably self-righteous
Neutral in register but always critical in force.
Etymology
A compound of self and righteous, meaning righteous in one's own estimation.
Full origin of self-righteous →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between self-righteous and sanctimonious?
Self-righteous describes the belief that you are morally better than other people. Sanctimonious describes the performance of that belief, especially with a show of piety you may not actually feel, so a sanctimonious person is putting it on while a self-righteous one may genuinely believe it.
What is the difference between self-righteous and righteous?
Righteous means genuinely morally right and is a compliment. Self-righteous means only you think so, and is always an insult; the self- prefix flips the word.
Is self-righteous always negative?
Yes. Nobody applies it to themselves approvingly, and it always signals that the speaker finds the person's moral certainty grating.
