hypocrisy

hypocrisy
    n 1: an expression of agreement that is not supported by real
         conviction [syn: {hypocrisy}, {lip service}]
    2: insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or
       beliefs that you do not really have
    

Hypocrisy \Hy*poc"ri*sy\ (h[i^]*p[o^]k"r[i^]*s[y^]), n.; pl.
   {Hypocrisies} (-s[i^]z). [OE. hypocrisie, ypocrisie, OF.
   hypocrisie, ypocrisie, F. hypocrisie, L. hypocrisis, fr. Gr.
   "ypo`krisis the playing a part on the stage, simulation,
   outward show, fr. "ypokr`nesqai to answer on the stage, to
   play a part; "ypo` under + kri`nein to decide; in the middle
   voice, to dispute, contend. See {Hypo-}, and {Critic}.]
   The act or practice of a hypocrite; a feigning to be what one
   is not, or to feel what one does not feel; a dissimulation,
   or a concealment of one's real character, disposition, or
   motives; especially, the assuming of false appearance of
   virtue or religion; a simulation of goodness.
   [1913 Webster]

         Hypocrisy is the necessary burden of villainy.
                                                  --Rambler.
   [1913 Webster]

         Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. --La
                                                  Rochefoucauld
                                                  (Trans. ).
   [1913 Webster]
    

90 Moby Thesaurus words for "hypocrisy":
      Pecksniffery, Pharisaism, Tartuffery, Tartuffism, affectation,
      affectedness, airs, airs and graces, artfulness, artificiality,
      cant, casuistry, charlatanism, charlatanry, chicanery, craft,
      cunning, deceit, deceitfulness, deception, double-dealing,
      duplicity, empty gesture, facade, fakery, false front, false piety,
      false show, falseheartedness, falseness, feigned belief, front,
      furtiveness, glibness, goody-goodiness, guile, humbug,
      hypocriticalness, image, indirection, insidiousness, insincerity,
      lip service, lying, mannerism, mealymouthedness, mendacity,
      mere show, mouthing, mummery, oiliness, ostentatious devotion,
      pecksniffery, pharisaicalness, pharisaism, pietism,
      pietisticalness, piety, piousness, pretense, pretension,
      prunes and prisms, public image, put-on, putting on airs, quackery,
      religionism, religiosity, sanctimoniousness, sanctimony,
      self-righteousness, sham, shiftiness, show, sneak attack,
      sneakiness, snivel, snuffle, snuffling, soft soap, stylishness,
      surreptitiousness, sweet talk, tokenism, treacherousness,
      two-facedness, unction, unctuousness, underhandedness,
      unnaturalness