Self-Righteous

Pronunciation: /sɛlf ˈraɪtʃəs/

Definitions of self-righteous

adjective having or characterized by a strong belief in one's own righteousness and a tendency to act in a morally superior way

Example Sentences

A1 She always acts self-righteous, thinking she knows everything.

A2 He can come across as self-righteous when discussing politics.

B1 The self-righteous attitude of the manager made it difficult for employees to approach him.

B2 Her self-righteous behavior alienated many of her friends.

C1 His self-righteousness often leads to conflicts in social situations.

C2 The author's self-righteous tone in the book turned off many readers.

Examples of self-righteous in a Sentence

formal She often comes across as self-righteous, always quick to judge others.

informal Don't be so self-righteous, nobody likes a know-it-all.

slang Stop being so self-righteous, you're not perfect either.

figurative His self-righteous attitude was like a shield, protecting him from criticism.

Grammatical Forms of self-righteous

• past tense: self-righteous
• plural: self-righteouses
• comparative: more self-righteous
• superlative: most self-righteous
• present tense: is self-righteous
• future tense: will be self-righteous
• perfect tense: has been self-righteous
• continuous tense: is being self-righteous
• singular: self-righteous
• positive degree: self-righteous
• infinitive: to be self-righteous
• gerund: being self-righteous
• participle: self-righteous

Origin and Evolution of self-righteous

First Known Use: 1647 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'self-righteous' originated from the combination of 'self' meaning one's own person and 'righteous' meaning morally right or just.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe a person who believes they are morally superior to others, the term 'self-righteous' has evolved to also encompass the idea of someone who is smugly virtuous or sanctimonious.