hypocritical
hih-puh-KRIH-tih-kuhl
Hypocritical (adjective) means showing hypocrisy; saying one thing while doing another. Example: “It felt hypocritical of the company to promote sustainability while polluting rivers.”
adjective
1
Showing hypocrisy; saying one thing while doing another.
"It felt hypocritical of the company to promote sustainability while polluting rivers."
How to use hypocritical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes behavior or statements that contradict someone's stated values.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hypocritical stance
sounds hypocritical
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more hypocritical
- Superlative
- most hypocritical
Fill the gap
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It felt _____ of the company to promote sustainability while polluting rivers.
Etymology
From Greek hypokritikos, related to hypokritēs ("actor, hypocrite").
Related words
Rhymes for hypocritical
See all rhymes for hypocritical →Frequently asked questions
What does “hypocritical” mean?
The word “hypocritical” means showing hypocrisy; saying one thing while doing another. In plain terms, describes behavior or statements that contradict someone's stated values.
How do you pronounce “hypocritical”?
“Hypocritical” is pronounced hih-puh-KRIH-tih-kuhl (/hɪpəˈkɹɪtɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “hypocritical” in a sentence?
Here is “hypocritical” used in a sentence: “It felt hypocritical of the company to promote sustainability while polluting rivers.”
What part of speech is “hypocritical”?
“Hypocritical” is an adjective.
Where does the word “hypocritical” come from?
The word “hypocritical” comes from Greek. From Greek hypokritikos, related to hypokritēs ("actor, hypocrite").
Is “hypocritical” a common word?
“Hypocritical” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
