Definition

1. Noun:
   • A hypocrite; a person who appears morally good or virtuous on the outside but is inwardly corrupt, evil, or wicked. The term is a direct biblical allusion, emphasizing a deceptive and false purity.

Usage

• The term "whited sepulchre" is a literary and formal noun used to describe a profound and deceptive form of hypocrisy. It is often used in moral, religious, or critical contexts to condemn someone whose outward actions and appearance mask a corrupt inner character. It carries a strong negative connotation.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The politician, who campaigned on family values, was exposed as a whited sepulchre when his corruption was revealed.
  • She accused the community leader of being a whited sepulchre, preaching charity while hoarding wealth.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase originates from the Bible (Matthew 23:27), where Jesus criticizes the religious leaders: "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." Using it invokes this specific cultural and religious reference.
• It is often used metaphorically to describe institutions or systems that present a virtuous facade while hiding corruption or injustice.
  • The charitable foundation was a whited sepulchre, a front for money laundering.

Variants and Related Words

• Whited sepulcher: The American English spelling variant.
• 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
• Pharisee (often used in a similar, biblically-derived sense)
• Fraud
• Charlatan (though this emphasizes fraudulent expertise more than moral hypocrisy)

Idioms and Related Phrases

• 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: A related phrase meaning to express support or allegiance insincerely, which is an action characteristic of a whited sepulchre.

Noun

1. a person who is inwardly evil but outwardly professes to be virtuous