1. a person who pretends to be religious or virtuous while acting hypocritically
Usage: from the title character of Molière’s play

Examples

• The politician was exposed as a tartuffe who preached family values while engaging in corruption.
• She saw through his tartuffe act and recognized his false piety.
• The community leader turned out to be a tartuffe, using his religious position for personal gain.
• His tartuffe behavior fooled many people until his true nature was revealed.
• The novel’s villain is a classic tartuffe who manipulates others through feigned righteousness.