Hypocriticalness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The characteristic of exhibiting a discrepancy between stated beliefs and true actions, reflecting insincerity in values or morality
2. A condition marked by a lack of authenticity where an individual professes certain principles yet behaves contrary to them
3. The quality of showing false or misleading appearance of having moral standards or beliefs one does not actually possess

Etymology: "Hypocriticalness" is a plain English formation: the adjective "hypocritical" with the suffix "-ness", which turns an adjective into a noun meaning the quality or state of being that adjective. "Hypocritical" itself comes from "hypocrite", which traces back through Old French and Latin to the Greek "hypokrites", meaning an actor or one who answers in a dialogue, from the idea of playing a part on stage. The suffix "-ness" is one of English's oldest and most productive endings, inherited from Old English, and it attaches freely to adjectives such as "kind" and "happy" to form nouns like "kindness" and "happiness". Because "hypocritical" already carries the sense of pretending to virtues one lacks, "hypocriticalness" names that same quality as a thing in itself, so the word reads as a more abstract, slightly heavier alternative to "hypocrisy".

Synonyms: hypocrisy

Antonyms: honesty, integrity