Pious platitudes are often used by people to sound more profound than they actually are. They are empty phrases that are used to convey a sense of moral superiority or righteousness without actually doing anything to back it up. Some synonyms for pious platitudes include empty rhetoric, sanctimonious language, empty words, and hollow sentimentality. These phrases all convey a sense of insincerity and phoniness, suggesting that the speaker is more concerned with appearing virtuous than actually being virtuous. Other synonyms for pious platitudes might include empty slogans, empty gestures, and false morality. All of these phrases serve to highlight the emptiness of the language and the lack of true moral conviction behind it.