Pious vs. Sanctimonious — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Pious and Sanctimonious
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Compare with Definitions
Pious
Earnestly compliant in the observance of religion; reverent or devout
A pious nun.
Sanctimonious
Behaving with sanctimony
A sanctimonious politician who was proven to be a hypocrite.
Pious
Showing or characterized by religious devotion
Pious observance.
Sanctimonious
Characterized by sanctimony
"The history we brandish as a light to nations is largely a sanctimonious tissue of myth and self-infatuation" (Benjamin Schwartz).
Pious
Expressive of or used in religious devotion; devotional
Pious readings.
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Sanctimonious
Making a show of being morally better than others, especially hypocritically pious.
Pious
Done for the benefit of others or with the intention of encouraging good
Practicers of the noble lie and the pious fraud.
Sanctimonious
(archaic) Holy, devout.
Pious
Sincere but wishful or far-fetched
A pious hope that the new method will work.
Sanctimonious
Possessing sanctimony; holy; sacred; saintly.
Pious
Self-righteous or sanctimonious
Pious denunciations of sexual harassment.
Sanctimonious
Making a show of sanctity; affecting saintliness; hypocritically devout or pious.
Pious
(Archaic) Professing or exhibiting traditional morality; dutiful.
Sanctimonious
Excessively or hypocritically pious;
A sickening sanctimonious smile
Pious
Of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, godfearing.
Pious
Relating to religion or religious works.
Pious
Insisting on or making a show of one's own virtue, especially in comparison to others; sanctimonious, condescending, judgmental.
Pious
Of or pertaining to piety; exhibiting piety; reverential; dutiful; religious; devout; godly.
Where was the martial brother's pious care?
Pious
Practiced under the pretext of religion; prompted by mistaken piety; as, pious errors; pious frauds.
Pious
Having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity;
Pious readings
Pious
Devoutly religious;
A god-fearing and law-abiding people
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