Synonyms for hypocrisy
All synonyms
Noun
1. Insincerity
insincerity, sanctimony, duplicity, deceit, deception, double-dealing, pretense US, pretence UK, dissimulation, affectation, sham, guile, cant, sanctimoniousness, pharisaism, humbug slang
Definitions
- n. 1
The contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs; hence in general sense, dissimulation, pretence, sham.
He condemned the hypocrisy of politicians who broke their own laws.
Related words
- Word family
- hypocrite hypocritic hypocritical hypocritically
Forms
- Plural
- hypocrisies → insincerities, sanctimonies, duplicities, deceits…
Choose the right word
Hypocrisy is the false pretense of moral excellence, either as a cover for actual wrong, or for the sake of the credit and advantage attaching to virtue. As cant is hypocrisy in utterance, so sanctimoniousness is hypocrisy in appearance, as in looks, tones, etc.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- deceit He acquired a great fortune by using deceit and treachery.
- duplicity Tom is often accused of duplicity.
- insincerity He works fast and is very articulate but his insincerity is his biggest defect.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| hypocrisy | steady | |
| deceit | rising | |
| duplicity | steady | |
| insincerity | steady | |
| sanctimony | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- cant1, sham1
- 5 letters
- guile1
- 6 letters
- deceit2, humbug2
- 7 letters
- pietism3
- 8 letters
- pretense2, pretence
- 9 letters
- deception3, duplicity4
- 10 letters
- sanctimony4, pharisaism5
- 11 letters
- affectation4, insincerity
- 13 letters
- dissimulation
- 15 letters
- hypocriticality
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (deceit2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- hypocrisie
- Italiano
- ipocrisia
- Español
- hipocresía
- Deutsch
- Heuchelei