Pecksniffian
adjective
Peck·sniff·ian pek-ˈsni-fē-ən 
: unctuously hypocritical : pharisaical
Did you know?
Seth Pecksniff, a character with a holier-than-thou attitude in Charles Dickens's 1844 novel Martin Chuzzlewit, was no angel, though he certainly tried to pass himself off as one. Pecksniff liked to preach morality and brag about his own virtue, but in reality he was a deceptive rascal who would use any means to advance his own selfish interests. It didn't take long for Pecksniff's reputation for canting sanctimoniousness to leave its mark on English; "Pecksniffian" has been used as a synonym of "hypocritical" since 1849.
Synonyms
- artificial
- backhanded
- counterfeit
- double
- double-dealing
- double-faced
- fake
- feigned
- hypocritical
- insincere
- Janus-faced
- jive [slang]
- left-handed
- lip
- mealy
- mealymouthed
- phony
- phoney
- phony-baloney
- phoney-baloney
- pretended
- two-faced
- unctuous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a Pecksniffian pandering to religious conservatives, especially in the weeks before the election
Word History
Etymology
Seth Pecksniff, character in Martin Chuzzlewit (1843–44) by Charles Dickens
First Known Use
1844, in the meaning defined above
Pecksniffian
adjective
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express a Pecksniffian pandering to religious conservatives, especially in the weeks before the election Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fake
- pretended
- double
- lip
- hollow
- hypocritical
- strained
- feigned
- counterfeit
- superficial
- mealymouthed
- backhanded
- mechanical
- Janus-faced
- assumed
- meaningless
- pious
- false
- unnatural
- phony
- affected
- insincere
- artificial
- mealy
- jive
- unctuous
- phony-baloney
- two-faced
- forced
- sham
- empty
- dishonest
- left-handed
- contrived
- double-faced
- claptrap
- phoney-baloney
- simulated
- deceitful
- double-dealing
- glib
- untruthful
- phoney
- pharisaical
- facetious
- bogus
- devious
- put-on
- sanctimonious
- jocular
- self-righteous
- simon-pure
- campy
- canting
- facile
- tongue-in-cheek
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sincere
- genuine
- undesigning
- unfeigned
- artless
- honest
- heartfelt
- candid
- direct
- plain
- frank
- open
- forthright
- straightforward
- heart-to-heart