The Meaning of Hypocrite: Definition and Examples

A hypocrite is basically characterised by behaviour that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel: hypocritical said that it was hypocritical to demand respect from students while failing to respect them in return a hypocritical gesture of modesty and virtue. Let’s talk about hypocrites, and why should you beware of them!

“Everybody is a hypocrite. You can't live on this planet without being a hypocrite.” - said Paul Watson.

The above hypocrite quotes may make you question everything and everyone but go on and read this article before you jump to any conclusion. While the above statement is a fact to a great length, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we should go about everything we know and become distrustful. Hypocrisy is a word derived from Greek, and it simply means “to pretend”. And in a way, we all pretend from time to time, but hypocrisy is harmful if it hurts others.

Let’s have a detailed look at what hypocrisy is and what is a hypocrite.

Hypocrite 

What is Hypocrisy?

Simply put, hypocrisy is an act or behaviour that contradicts a person’s behaviour or feeling. When a person says something but does not do it themself, it is known as hypocrisy.

Let’s say that you are sitting with a friend who is telling you about all the harmful effects of eating too much sugar on your body. But you have seen them munch on chocolates every day. This is called hypocrisy. The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that's also a hypocrite! A perfect hypocrite quote indicated the features of a hypocrite.

Signs of Hypocrisy

Example of A Hypocrite

You must have come across people who criticise others for doing something they are guilty of doing. A hypocrite example- if someone pinpoints you or someone else for always being late but themselves don’t show up on time.

Hypocrites generally express themselves to have a higher moral ground than everyone else; in reality, they don’t. People who tell you not to eat candy but eat licorice all day People who claim to dislike cars but always beg you for a ride are a few hypocrite examples.

Though we all tend to be hypocrites sometimes because of various circumstances, it can’t be considered a personality trait. A hypocrite will repeatedly showcase hypocrisy no matter what circumstance or situation.

Hypocrite 

How do You Identify A Hypocrite?

To beware of hypocrites, you need to know how to identify them. The way to recognise a hypocrite is through observation. You must have heard the phrase- actions speak louder than words. This is the test to identify a hypocrite. All you need to do is observe how much a person deviates from what they say. If it happens a couple of times, you can let it pass, but if it is a habit, then that person is a hypocrite, and you should keep your distance from them.

Hypocrite Quotes

Why Should You Beware of A Hypocrite?

Now that you have understood what hypocrisy is, who a hypocrite is, and how to identify them, let’s look at why you should beware of hypocrites. Here are a few points to help you understand better.

• Hypocrites have questionable integrity, hence, befriending them can impact you negatively.

• Making commitments on behalf of a hypocrite to someone can put you in a tough spot and ruin your relationships with others.

• Interactions with hypocrites can negatively impact your mental state if you talk to them often.

• Hypocrites usually find it tough to deal with confrontations; if you care about the person confronting, it can make you the bad person in their story.

• Being in close relations with a hypocrite in the early stages can make you become distrustful.

How to Deal With Hypocrites?

Dealing with hypocrites can be a tough task as they will constantly put your trust to question. In case you can’t avoid a situation with a hypocritical person, here are some tips to follow not to let it impact you drastically.

1. Keep your interaction short and stay calm. If you feel they are consuming a lot of your time, just say that you have some task or don’t have the time to talk for long.

2. Judge the hypocrisy in the statements if you notice that your friend likes a certain kind of food or music, but when they are in the company of others, they change their choice as per the popular one. Then it’s something that you should let go of.

3. Simply ignore the remarks of a hypocrite that you can’t prove. Remember, in the long run; they will be the ones dealing with their hypocrisy.

4. Don’t confront it if you can limit your interactions. For example, the hypocrite is a relative you rarely meet. The best thing to do would be to shrug off their remarks and keep your calm mentally.

5. In case you confront a hypocrite, make sure to be respectful and address the situation politely.

Summary

In this article, we learned what hypocrisy is, who a hypocrite is and how to identify it, some popular quotes on hypocrites, why we should beware of it, and how to deal with them. Hypocrisy is in all of us, and hypocrites are all around us. So, there is no way in which you can avoid them altogether. However, we can always be on the lookout for hypocrites and make sure not to be one ourselves. Remember, hypocrites can only affect your relationships and mental peace if you are close to them. The best way to deal with them is not to take them seriously and react calmly.