Definition

A person who pretends to be morally good or religious but is actually insincere or hypocritical.

Example

In the story, the character was a tartufe, deceiving everyone with his false piety.

Conversation

Have you ever read anything by Molière?

Yeah, I remember a character called tartufe who was quite the hypocrite.

Right! It's interesting how he pretended to be pious.

Exactly, it really shows how appearances can be deceiving.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tartufe → The word originates from French, specifically from the character 'Tartuffe' in Molière's play, which is derived from the Old French word 'tartuf', meaning hypocrite or a person who pretends to be virtuous. The term has come to represent someone who is insincere or deceitful in their moral or religious beliefs.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 'Tartuffe' who pretends to be virtuous but is actually hypocritical — this helps you remember that 'tartufe' refers to someone who is insincere.

Visually Confused Words