Pious vs. Sanctimonious

Piousadjective

Of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, godfearing.

Sanctimoniousadjective

Making a show of being morally better than others, especially hypocritically pious.

Piousadjective

Of or pertaining to piety; exhibiting piety; reverential; dutiful; religious; devout; godly.

‘Where was the martial brother's pious care?’;

Sanctimoniousadjective

(archaic) Holy, devout.

Piousadjective

Practiced under the pretext of religion; prompted by mistaken piety; as, pious errors; pious frauds.

Sanctimoniousadjective

Possessing sanctimony; holy; sacred; saintly.

Piousadjective

having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity;

‘pious readings’;

Sanctimoniousadjective

Making a show of sanctity; affecting saintliness; hypocritically devout or pious.

Piousadjective

devoutly religious;

‘a god-fearing and law-abiding people’;

Sanctimoniousadjective

excessively or hypocritically pious;

‘a sickening sanctimonious smile’;