self-righteousness

Definitions

Confidence in one's own righteousness, self-assurance, smug.

Equivalents

Examples

“The book of Job warns us against self-righteousness, since no man can justify⟳ himself to God.”

“The heroines of these plays speak⟳ out against intraracial biases, stereotyping, lynchmobs, illiteracy, poverty, promiscuity, self-righteousness, verbally abusive men, rape, and miscegenation. […] Without warning the doctor, she chokes the life out of her child in order⟳ to keep⟳ him safe from white lynchmobs.”

“There was no tedious self-righteousness on the night of the gala event. The charity auction invited bids for a night out at the Windmill Club (a lapdancing venue in Soho) and a course of plastic surgery, offered as an opportunity to “Add⟳ spice to your wife””

CEFR level