ARROGANT Synonyms: 127 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'arrogant' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of arrogant are disdainful , haughty , insolent , lordly , overbearing , proud , and supercilious . While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted. // a conceited and arrogant executive

Q: When is 'disdainful' a more appropriate choice than 'arrogant'?

The synonyms disdainful and arrogant are sometimes interchangeable, but disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness. // disdainful of their social inferiors

Q: When would 'haughty' be a good substitute for 'arrogant'?

The words haughty and arrogant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position. // a haughty aristocrat

Q: When might 'insolent' be a better fit than 'arrogant'?

The words insolent and arrogant can be used in similar contexts, but insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness. // ignored by an insolent waiter

Q: When could 'lordly' be used to replace 'arrogant'?

The meanings of lordly and arrogant largely overlap; however, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power. // a lordly condescension

Q: Where would 'overbearing' be a reasonable alternative to 'arrogant'?

While the synonyms overbearing and arrogant are close in meaning, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence. // an overbearing supervisor

Q: When can 'proud' be used instead of 'arrogant'?

In some situations, the words proud and arrogant are roughly equivalent. However, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness. // too proud to take charity

Q: When is it sensible to use 'supercilious' instead of 'arrogant'?

While in some cases nearly identical to arrogant , supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness. // an aloof and supercilious manner

arrogant

adjective

ˈer-ə-gənt

Definition of arrogant next

as in cavalier

having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the arrogant young lawyer elbowed his way to the head of the line of customers, declaring that he was too busy to wait like everybody else

Synonyms & Similar Words

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an arrogant attitude

a pompous attitude

a smug attitude

an overconfident attitude

a snobbish attitude

a conceited attitude

arrogant people

overconfident people

cocky people

egotistical people

pompous people

conceited people

an arrogant assumption

an audacious assumption

a pompous assumption

a presumptuous assumption

an overconfident assumption

a boastful assumption

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective arrogant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of arrogant are disdainful, haughty, insolent, lordly, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When is disdainful a more appropriate choice than arrogant?

The synonyms disdainful and arrogant are sometimes interchangeable, but disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When would haughty be a good substitute for arrogant?

The words haughty and arrogant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

When might insolent be a better fit than arrogant?

The words insolent and arrogant can be used in similar contexts, but insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When could lordly be used to replace arrogant?

The meanings of lordly and arrogant largely overlap; however, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

Where would overbearing be a reasonable alternative to arrogant?

While the synonyms overbearing and arrogant are close in meaning, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

When can proud be used instead of arrogant?

In some situations, the words proud and arrogant are roughly equivalent. However, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When is it sensible to use supercilious instead of arrogant?

While in some cases nearly identical to arrogant, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

Examples of arrogant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Although not entirely surprising, my protagonist is an arrogant surgeon who works in a flawed hospital environment. —

David Weill, STAT, 9 Aug. 2024 Mercury retrograde checks arrogant opinions and assumptions. —

USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2024 Victor Von Doom is a brilliant but arrogant man—just like Tony Stark. —

Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 28 July 2024 Of course, much of the blow-back Rodgers receives can be attributed to what is often perceived as an arrogant delivery/demeanor — or worse. —

Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 27 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for arrogant

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arrogant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Arrogant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arrogant. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.

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Last Updated: 12 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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