New word of the day: virtuecrat, n. Rather fitting....
[‘ A person who is convinced of his or her moral superiority; (also) a politician or other public figure who seeks to promote morality.’]
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈvəːtʃuːkrat/, /ˈvəːtjuːkrat/, U.S. /ˈvərtʃuˌkræt/
Forms: 19– virtucrat, 19– virtuecrat.
Etymology: virtue n. + -crat comb. form. depreciative (chiefly U.S.).
A person who is convinced of his or her moral superiority; (also) a politician or other public figure who seeks to promote morality.
1985 J. Epstein in N.Y. Times Mag. 24 Nov. 65 The people I have in mind have a superiority complex; they are completely convinced of their own moral superiority. I think of them as ‘virtucrats’, for they are empowered by the unfaltering sense of their own virtue.