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
hypocritically
ˌhi-pə-ˈkri-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- artificial
- backhanded
- counterfeit
- double
- double-dealing
- double-faced
- fake
- feigned
- insincere
- Janus-faced
- jive [slang]
- left-handed
- lip
- mealy
- mealymouthed
- Pecksniffian
- phony
- phoney
- phony-baloney
- phoney-baloney
- pretended
- two-faced
- unctuous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Among other things, the city commissioners alleged that Acevedo has been hypocritical for firing officers for some of the things he is accused of doing. Chron, 12 Oct. 2021 StockX dismissed Nike's allegations and characterized the counterfeit charges as hypocritical. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 12 May 2022 But in the past, the company has derided the complaints as hypocritical. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 3 May 2022 Additionally, these large commitments may be seen as hypocritical, and trust in a company's sincere intentions may be broken. Kelsey Griffis, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2022 Against that backdrop, critics denounced as hypocritical the choice of Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a cross-country skier who the Chinese said has Uyghur roots, to participate in the final, ritual lighting of the Olympic flame. New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022 The developed world’s response to the global energy crisis has put its hypocritical attitude toward fossil fuels on display. Bjorn Lomborg, WSJ, 20 June 2022 Supporting the election prospects of candidates Democrats claim are a danger to democracy has also been criticized as being hypocritical. Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2022 It’s hypocritical how Democrats are allowed to hold their faith without judgment, the senator said, but conservatives are not. al, 22 Mar. 2022 See More
Chron, 12 Oct. 2021 StockX dismissed Nike's allegations and characterized the counterfeit charges as hypocritical. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 12 May 2022 But in the past, the company has derided the complaints as hypocritical. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 3 May 2022 Additionally, these large commitments may be seen as hypocritical, and trust in a company's sincere intentions may be broken. Kelsey Griffis, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2022 Against that backdrop, critics denounced as hypocritical the choice of Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a cross-country skier who the Chinese said has Uyghur roots, to participate in the final, ritual lighting of the Olympic flame. New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022 The developed world’s response to the global energy crisis has put its hypocritical attitude toward fossil fuels on display. Bjorn Lomborg, WSJ, 20 June 2022 Supporting the election prospects of candidates Democrats claim are a danger to democracy has also been criticized as being hypocritical. Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2022 It’s hypocritical how Democrats are allowed to hold their faith without judgment, the senator said, but conservatives are not. al, 22 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
hypocritic "of a hypocrite" (borrowed from Medieval Latin hypocriticus, borrowed from Greek hypokritikós "of acting, skilled in rhetorical delivery," from hypokritḗs "answerer, actor on a stage" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1 — more at hypocrite
First Known Use
1553, in the meaning defined above
hypocritical
adjective
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express it's hypocritical to say mean things behind someone's back, and then to act nice when you want something from her Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fake
- double
- pretended
- meaningless
- lip
- insincere
- superficial
- strained
- hollow
- pious
- backhanded
- unnatural
- artificial
- unctuous
- phony
- two-faced
- false
- dishonest
- counterfeit
- assumed
- phoney-baloney
- mechanical
- mealymouthed
- phony-baloney
- phoney
- affected
- jive
- feigned
- deceitful
- forced
- mealy
- Janus-faced
- double-faced
- contrived
- empty
- claptrap
- untruthful
- double-dealing
- sanctimonious
- glib
- sham
- Pecksniffian
- left-handed
- pharisaical
- devious
- simulated
- facile
- self-righteous
- facetious
- bogus
- put-on
- jocular
- campy
- canting
- tongue-in-cheek
- simon-pure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sincere
- artless
- honest
- genuine
- heartfelt
- candid
- unfeigned
- forthright
- plain
- frank
- direct
- straightforward
- open
- undesigning
- heart-to-heart
- never looked back
- never mind
- never miss a trick
- never say die
- never say never
- never so
- never so much as
- never the twain shall meet
- never the wiser
- never to return
- never you mind
- never-ending
- never-never
- never-never country
- never-never land
- never-never lands
- never-was
- never-weres
- never/not dream of
- never/not hear the end of it
- never/not in a thousand/million/billion years
- lysimachi
- Lysimachia
- lysimachiae
- lysimachias