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English

hypocritically

|hy-po-crit-i-cal-ly|

C1

🇺🇸

/ˌhɪpəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

🇬🇧

/ˌhɪpəˈkrɪtɪk(ə)l/

(hypocritical)

pretending virtue

Base FormComparativeSuperlativeAdverb
hypocriticalmore hypocriticalmost hypocriticalhypocritically
Etymology
Etymology Information

'hypocritically' originates from English, specifically from the adjective 'hypocritical' + the adverbial suffix '-ly'. 'Hypocritical' itself was formed in English from Latin and Greek roots.

Historical Evolution

'hypocritical' came into English via Late Latin 'hypocriticālis' and Old French forms, ultimately from Latin 'hypocrita' and Greek 'hypokritēs' (ὑποκριτής). The Greek 'hypokritēs' originally meant 'an actor' or 'one who answers', and this developed into the sense of someone who 'pretends' or 'dissembles'; English later added '-ly' to create 'hypocritically'.

Meaning Changes

Initially it referred to an 'actor' or 'stage performer' (one who replies or interprets); over time the sense shifted to 'one who pretends' or 'a dissembler,' and the modern adverb means 'in a hypocritical manner' (pretending to have virtues one does not possess).

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a way that shows hypocrisy; pretending to have beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not actually possess.

She hypocritically praised the company's concern for the environment while secretly dumping toxic waste.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2026/01/13 18:13