Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [hoh-lee-er-th uh n-th ou]
- /ˈhoʊ- ðæn, ðɛn ðaʊ/
- /ˈhəʊ.li ðən ðaʊ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hoh-lee-er-th uh n-th ou]
- /ˈhoʊ- ðæn, ðɛn ðaʊ/
Definitions of holier-than-thou word
- adjective holier-than-thou obnoxiously pious; sanctimonious; self-righteous. 1
- noun holier-than-thou a person who is obnoxiously pious or self-righteous. 1
- adjective holier-than-thou sanctimonious 1
- adjective holier-than-thou If you describe someone as holier-than-thou, you disapprove of them because they seem to believe that they are more religious or have better moral qualities than anyone else. 0
- noun holier-than-thou offensively sanctimonious or self-righteous 0
- adjective holier-than-thou self-righteous; overly pious 0
Information block about the term
Origin of holier-than-thou
First appearance:
before 1910 One of the 15% newest English words
First recorded in 1910-15
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Holier-than-thou
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
holier-than-thou popularity
This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 29% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.
According to our data about 71% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
Synonyms for holier-than-thou
adj holier-than-thou
- artificial — Artificial objects, materials, or processes do not occur naturally and are created by human beings, for example using science or technology.
- goody-goody — a person who is self-righteously, affectedly, or cloyingly good.
- sanctimonious — making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness, etc.: They resented his sanctimonious comments on immorality in America.
- smug — contentedly confident of one's ability, superiority, or correctness; complacent.
- snobbish — of, relating to, or characteristic of a snob: snobbish ideas about rank.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with h
- Words starting with ho
- Words starting with hol
- Words starting with holi
- Words starting with holie
- Words starting with holier
- Words starting with holiert
- Words starting with holierth
- Words starting with holiertha
- Words starting with holierthan
- Words starting with holierthant
- Words starting with holierthanth
- Words starting with holierthantho
- Words starting with holierthanthou