Hypocrite vs. Sanctimonious — What's the Difference?

A hypocrite often encompasses individuals who project a moral or ethical stance but engage in behavior that starkly contradicts such values. It represents an inconsistency between outward expressions of morality and internal or actual practices. Sanctimonious individuals, while they might exhibit similar incongruences, especially foreground a smugness or self-righteousness about their alleged moral superiority, often annoyingly so.

Hypocrite and sanctimonious both carry negative connotations, albeit different implications and manifestations. The former primarily involves a dichotomy between preached and practiced values without the necessity of moral superiority, while the latter involves an obnoxious or conspicuous display of supposed moral superiority, which may or may not be genuine.

Hypocrites might be well aware of their inconsistencies or deceptive displays of virtue and intentionally manipulate these to project a certain image. Their practices deliberately shield their actual, nonconforming behaviors from scrutiny or criticism. Sanctimonious persons, in contrast, might be somewhat deluded by their self-perceived moral high ground, consistently parading their virtue before others with a condescending demeanor, while possibly harboring similar vices in secrecy.

A hypocrite does not necessarily always act with the intent of moral superiority. Their pretense might stem from a desire to conform to societal expectations or to navigate societal norms without necessarily lording it over others. On the other hand, a sanctimonious individual consciously chooses to exhibit their supposed morality in a way that belittles others, expressing an implicit or explicit superiority derived from their alleged virtue.

In various scenarios, a hypocrite might remain undetected if their contradictory behaviors are never brought to light. They navigate through social spheres, receiving possibly undeserved praise or trust. Conversely, sanctimonious individuals often draw ire or annoyance from peers due to their ostentatious displays of moral purity or ethical behavior, even when it’s genuine.