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Hypocrisy vs Sham - What's the difference?

hypocrisy | sham | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between hypocrisy and sham

is that hypocrisy is the claim or pretense of having beliefs, standards, qualities, behaviours, virtues, motivations, etc. which one does not actually have while sham is a fake; an imitation that purports to be genuine.

As an adjective sham is

intended to deceive; false.

As a verb sham is

to deceive, cheat, lie.

hypocrisy

English

Noun

(hypocrisies)
  • The claim or pretense of having]] beliefs, standards, qualities, [[behaviour, behaviours, virtues, motivations, etc. which one does not actually have.
  • The practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticises another; moral self-contradiction whereby the behavior of one or more people their own claimed or implied possession of certain beliefs, standards or virtues.
  • An instance of either or both of the above.

    • Derived terms

    * hypocritical * hypocritically * hypocrite

    See also

    * ("hypocrisy" on Wikipedia)

    sham

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Intended to deceive; false.
    • It was only a sham wedding: they didn't care much for one another but wanted their parents to stop hassling them.
  • counterfeit; unreal
  • * Jowett
    • They scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians.

    Synonyms

    * mock * See also

    Antonyms

    * genuine * sincere * real

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fake; an imitation that purports to be genuine.
    • The time-share deal was a sham .
  • Trickery, hoaxing.
    • A con-man must be skilled in the arts of sham and deceit.
  • A false front, or removable ornamental covering.
  • A decorative cover for a pillow.

    • Derived terms

    * shamateur

    See also

    * pillow sham

    Verb

    (shamm)
  • To deceive, cheat, lie.
  • * L'Estrange
    • Fooled and shammed into a conviction.
  • To obtrude by fraud or imposition.
  • * L'Estrange
    • We must have a care that we do not sham fallacies upon the world for current reason.
  • To assume the manner and character of; to imitate; to ape; to feign.

    • External links

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    Anagrams

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