Arrogant | Definition of arrogant by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of ARROGANT

1

: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner <an arrogant official>

2

: showing an offensive attitude of superiority : proceeding from or characterized by arrogance <an arrogant reply>

— ar·ro·gant·ly adverb

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Examples of ARROGANT

Tim Blixseth, the founder of the Yellowstone Club and other gated hideaways, tells Frank: “I don't like most rich people. They can be arrogant.” This from a man who owns two Shih Tzus named Learjet and G2. —Alex Beam, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 2007
Arrogant execs are not the only targets of investors' ire. … There's no telling how much money analysts such as Meeker cost investors with their interminable buy recommendations on Internet stocks that eventually went bust. —Marcia Vickers et al., Business Week, 25 Feb. 2002
Despite her social and business status in Washington, Graham remained unassuming and down to earth. Her quiet but steady courage affirmed women such as Geneva Overhosler, a former editor and Post ombudsman, by showing a woman could be powerful without being arrogant. —Mark Fitzgerald et al., Editor & Publisher, 23 July 2001
Shakespeare must have known that while his audiences loved to see villains punished and arrogant young men humbled, they did not want to fidget and squirm through mea culpas before the final scene. —Elaine Showalter, Civilization, April/May 1999
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Origin of ARROGANT

Middle English, from Latin arrogant-, arrogans, present participle of arrogare (see arrogate)

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ARROGANT

Synonyms: assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

Antonyms: humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious

Synonym Discussion of ARROGANT

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors. proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness <too proud to take charity>. arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted <a conceited and arrogant executive>. haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position <a haughty aristocrat>. lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power <a lordly condescension>. insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness <ignored by an insolent waiter>. overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence <an overbearing supervisor>. supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness <an aloof and supercilious manner>. disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness <disdainful of their social inferiors>.

Definition of ARROGANT for Kids

: showing the attitude of a person who is overly proud of himself or herself or of his or her own opinions

— ar·ro·gant·ly adverb

Learn More About ARROGANT

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "arrogant"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "arrogant"

Nglish: Translation of "arrogant" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "arrogant" for Arabic speakers

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