sanctimony
noun
sanc·ti·mo·ny
ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-ˌmō-nē 
plural sanctimonies
1
obsolete
: holiness
2
: affected or hypocritical holiness
Examples of sanctimony in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is the Russia—and the Russians—that Obama inherited in 2009: prideful, angry, and in no mood for the sanctimony that came with the new administration’s stress on democracy promotion.
—
Robert David English, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2017
Though Europe and America responded with sanctions and sanctimony, the Kremlin was able to thwart Ukraine’s aspirations for ascension to the European Union and force the West to acknowledge Russia’s opinion on geopolitical affairs.
—Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024
The performances sing, too, with the series making use of Portman’s gift for self-righteous sanctimony and Ingram’s ability to sell both disillusionment and swashbuckling heroism as the situation demands it.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2024
The effect is to achieve Woods’s desire to inject nuance into the show’s discussions and plots without sanctimony.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanctimony 
Robert David English, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2017
Though Europe and America responded with sanctions and sanctimony, the Kremlin was able to thwart Ukraine’s aspirations for ascension to the European Union and force the West to acknowledge Russia’s opinion on geopolitical affairs.
—Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024
The performances sing, too, with the series making use of Portman’s gift for self-righteous sanctimony and Ingram’s ability to sell both disillusionment and swashbuckling heroism as the situation demands it.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2024
The effect is to achieve Woods’s desire to inject nuance into the show’s discussions and plots without sanctimony.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanctimony
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sanctimony.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sanctimony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanctimony. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
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