adjective

holier-than-thou

HOH-lee-ur than THOW

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Holier-than-thou (adjective) means behaving as though you are morally better than everyone else, in a way others find smug and irritating. Example: “Spare me the holier-than-thou lecture about my recycling.”

adjective

disapproving Behaving as though you are morally better than everyone else, in a way others find smug and irritating.

"Spare me the holier-than-thou lecture about my recycling."

"He gave up flying and got insufferably holier-than-thou about it."

How to use holier-than-thou

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishActing like you are a better person than everyone around you.

When to use it

Informal and always critical. Common in journalism, reviews and argument.

Memory tip

Keep both hyphens whether it stands before a noun or after a verb; the whole phrase works as one adjective.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

sanctimonious → pious → judgemental

Common pairings

holier-than-thou attitude holier-than-thou tone sound holier-than-thou holier-than-thou types

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “holier-than-thou” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Spare me the _____ lecture about my recycling.

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.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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sanctimonious self-righteous preachy priggish smug

Antonyms

humble self-effacing unassuming

Related words

base holy proud defeat humble modest Victorian retiring

Rhymes for holier-than-thou

ou you fou sou IOU Lou kou mou Zou Vou Hou thou

See all rhymes for 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.

What is the meaning of holier-than-thou?

"holier-than-thou" (adjective) means behaving as though you are morally better than everyone else, in a way others find smug and irritating.

What is another word for holier-than-thou?

Other words for "holier-than-thou" include sanctimonious, self-righteous, preachy, priggish, smug.

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