"Hypocrisy" is a noun used to describe the behavior of people who pretend to have certain beliefs, virtues, or qualities that they do not actually possess. It refers to the act of claiming to hold certain moral principles or values while behaving in a way that contradicts or goes against those very principles.
In other words, when someone is being hypocritical, they are saying one thing but doing something different, often to deceive others or to create a false impression of themselves. This behavior is generally seen as insincere, dishonest, and lacking in integrity.
For example, if a person publicly advocates for honesty and integrity but is frequently caught lying and engaging in unethical behavior, they would be considered hypocritical. It's a negative trait that can erode trust and credibility in the eyes of others.
Example sentences
- The politician's speeches about fighting corruption were exposed as mere hypocrisy when he was caught accepting bribes.
- Jane couldn't stand the hypocrisy of her friend, who preached about environmental conservation but never recycled or reduced waste.
- The company's CEO was accused of hypocrisy after laying off employees while giving himself a substantial raise.
- Tom pointed out the hypocrisy of his coworker, who condemned laziness but spent most of the workday on social media.
- The celebrity's advocacy for animal rights was undermined by allegations of animal cruelty at his private zoo, revealing his hypocrisy.
- The religious leader's hypocrisy became evident when he was discovered engaging in the very actions he preached against.
- Sarah was frustrated by the hypocrisy of her boss, who demanded punctuality but was frequently late to meetings.
- Many people were disappointed by the politician's hypocrisy, as he voted against policies he had previously supported.
- The media criticized the celebrity couple's hypocrisy for promoting a healthy lifestyle while endorsing unhealthy products.
- The public was quick to call out the hypocrisy of the sports star, who spoke about fair play but was caught cheating during a game.
Want to sound like a native speaker?
Engram’s AI-powered grammar checker makes your English sound like a native speaker’s, suggesting natural English expressions on top of fixing grammar, spelling, punctuation, word order, and vocabulary.
Reference: