hypocritical
adjective
hyp·o·crit·i·cal
ˌhi-pə-ˈkri-ti-kəl 
: characterized by behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel : characterized by hypocrisy
said that it was hypocritical to demand respect from students without respecting them in return
a hypocritical gesture of modesty and virtue—
Robert Graves
Robert Graves
also
: being a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings : being a hypocrite
Examples of hypocritical in a Sentence
it's hypocritical to say mean things behind someone's back, and then to act nice when you want something from her
Recent Examples on the Web
In a society that is adamant, if hypocritical, in its moral rejection of violence, the ubiquity of such violent imagery seems to have its own kind of purpose.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
However, his latest mistake is very hypocritical and raises some questions about double standards in his coaching.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Most of these hypocritical legislators are near the completion of their involvement in the Capitol thanks to term limits.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
Each has talked up and acted upon the notion that universities’ illiberal and often hypocritical approaches to issues concerning free speech and antisemitism need to change.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypocritical
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David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
However, his latest mistake is very hypocritical and raises some questions about double standards in his coaching.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Most of these hypocritical legislators are near the completion of their involvement in the Capitol thanks to term limits.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
Each has talked up and acted upon the notion that universities’ illiberal and often hypocritical approaches to issues concerning free speech and antisemitism need to change.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypocritical
Cite this Entry
“Hypocritical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocritical. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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