Definition

1. Adverb:
   • In a hypocritical manner; in a way that involves pretending to have beliefs, virtues, or feelings that one does not actually possess. It describes an action done with insincerity, often to create a false impression of goodness or piety.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • He spoke hypocritically about the importance of honesty while secretly lying to his colleagues.
  • She smiled hypocritically, praising a coworker's work that she actually despised.
  • The politician promised to fight corruption hypocritically, as investigations later revealed his own corrupt dealings.

Advanced Usage

• Used to modify verbs describing speech, behavior, or expression: The adverb "hypocritically" most commonly modifies verbs like , , , , or to highlight the disconnect between appearance and reality.
  • The leader hypocritically advocated for austerity while living in luxury.

Variants and Related Words

• Hypocrisy (n): The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.
  • His public charity was a mask for his private greed, revealing his hypocrisy.
• Hypocrite (n): A person who indulges in hypocrisy.
  • She called him a hypocrite for criticizing others for the very faults he possessed.
• Hypocritical (adj): Behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.
  • His hypocritical condemnation of the media was exposed when he was caught leaking stories to them.

Synonyms

• Insincerely: In a manner that is not genuine or heartfelt.
• Disingenuously: In a manner that is not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
• Deceptively: In a misleading way; so as to give a false impression.
• Pharisaically: In a manner resembling a hypocrite who is self-righteous and observant of formalities (formal/literary).

Antonyms

• Sincerely: In a genuine, honest, and heartfelt manner.
• Genuinely: Truly; in a way that is authentic and not pretended.
• Honestly: In a truthful, fair, and honorable manner.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• With a forked tongue: Speaking deceitfully or hypocritically (idiomatic).
  • He spoke with a forked tongue, promising peace while preparing for war.
• To pay lip service: To express approval or support insincerely (idiomatic phrasal verb).
  • The company paid lip service to environmental concerns hypocritically while continuing to pollute.

Adverb

1. in a hypocritical manner
   • he behaved hypocritically by praying piously when people were watching