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Hypocrisy for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: hɪ'pɑkrəsi

What does Hypocrisy really mean?

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Hey there! So, I heard you're wondering about the meaning of the word "hypocrisy." Well, let me break it down for you in a super easy and relatable way. Imagine if you had a friend who always told you how important it is to eat healthy and take care of your body, but then they went and devoured a huge bag of lollipops in secret. That, my friend, is a perfect example of hypocrisy!

In simplest terms, hypocrisy means saying or advocating one thing, but doing the opposite. It's when someone pretends to have certain beliefs or values, but their actions don't match up with what they say. It's like wearing a mask, where the true feelings or intentions are hidden behind a façade of false words or actions.

Let me give you another example to make it crystal clear. Imagine if someone constantly preached about the importance of honesty, yet they lied and cheated their way through every situation. That's a prime example of hypocrisy too!

Now, I should mention that hypocrisy can have a couple of meanings, just like some words have more than one definition. Besides the general sense I just explained, it can also refer to the act of pretending to have qualities or virtues that one doesn't actually possess. You know, like when someone acts all kind and caring in front of others, but deep down, they're actually quite selfish.

So, to sum it all up, think of hypocrisy as the opposite of practicing what you preach. It's when someone says one thing but does another, or when they pretend to be something they're not. It's like wearing a mask of false beliefs or actions. Just remember those examples we talked about, with the health-conscious friend who secretly binges on lollipops and the person who talks about honesty but cheats their way through life. That should help you remember the meaning of hypocrisy!

Revised and Fact checked by William Rodriguez on 2023-10-29 11:02:05

Hypocrisy In a sentece

Learn how to use Hypocrisy inside a sentece

  • Someone who tells others to be honest but lies himself is a hypocrite.
  • When a person criticizes others for being lazy but then spends all their time watching TV, that's hypocrisy.
  • Imagine someone who says it's bad to steal, but then steals things themselves. That's hypocrisy.
  • If a person says it's important to protect the environment but continues to litter, that's an example of hypocrisy.
  • A politician who promises to fight against corruption but is found to be involved in corrupt activities is being hypocritical.

Hypocrisy Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Hypocrisy Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Hypocrisy Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.