whited sepulcher
Definition
Noun: A person who is inwardly evil, corrupt, or hypocritical but outwardly professes to be virtuous, good, or pious. The term implies a deliberate and deceptive contrast between a pure, attractive appearance and a rotten, corrupt inner reality.
Usage
This term is used as a singular, countable noun to describe a person, typically in formal, literary, or critical contexts. It is a strong pejorative term for a hypocrite, emphasizing the depth of the deception and the moral corruption it hides.
Examples
- The politician, who campaigned on family values, was exposed as a whited sepulcher after his financial crimes were revealed.
- In the novel, the charitable benefactor is ultimately portrayed as a whited sepulcher, using his public image to conceal his cruel and exploitative private dealings.
- She accused the community leader of being a whited sepulcher, preaching honesty while secretly manipulating the organization's funds.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase originates from a Biblical metaphor (Matthew 23:27), where it is used to criticize religious hypocrites: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." This context underscores the theme of spiritual or moral death hidden beneath a clean, whitewashed surface.
- It is often used in rhetorical or polemical writing to deliver a powerful condemnation.
Variants and Related Words
- Whited sepulchre: An alternative, chiefly British English spelling of "sepulcher."
- Hypocrite (n.): A more common and general term for a person who pretends to have virtues, morals, or beliefs that they do not actually possess.
- Dissembler (n.): A person who conceals their true motives or feelings under a false appearance.
Synonyms
- Hypocrite
- Dissembler
- Charlatan
- Fraud
- Imposter
- Pharisee (in the historical/religious sense of a hypocrite)
Related Idioms
- A wolf in sheep's clothing: An idiom with a similar meaning, describing a dangerous person who disguises themselves as harmless.
- To pay lip service: To express approval or support insincerely, which is a behavior characteristic of a whited sepulcher.
Noun
-
a person who is inwardly evil but outwardly professes to be virtuous
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