If you describe someone as self-righteous, you disapprove of them because they are convinced that they are right in their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour and that other people are wrong.
[disapproval]
He is critical of the monks, whom he considers narrow-minded and self-righteous.
...self-righteous reformers.
Synonyms: sanctimonious, smug, pious, superior More Synonyms of self-righteous
self-righteousnessuncountable noun
...her smug self-righteousness.
self-righteous in British English
adjective
having or showing an exaggerated awareness of one's own virtuousness or rights
Derived forms
self-righteously (ˌself-ˈrighteously)
adverb
self-righteousness (ˌself-ˈrighteousness)
noun
self-righteous in American English
(ˈsɛlfˈraɪtʃəs)
adjective
filled with or showing a conviction of being morally superior, or more righteous than others; smugly virtuous
Derived forms
self-righteously (ˈself-ˈrighteously)
adverb
self-righteousness (ˈself-ˈrighteousness)
noun
Examples of 'self-righteous' in a sentence
self-righteous
We were feeling really self-righteous for ages.
The Sun (2015)
They feel self-righteous and some of them see themselves as the victims of a hostile establishment.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Now they could wallow in self-righteous indignation.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
It's easy to see this self-righteous attitude too often adopted by anyone in a uniform.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your letters are filled with such painful need and chilly, self-righteous anger that most people would have run a mile.