haughty

adjective haugh·ty \ˈhȯ-tē, ˈhä-\

: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people

haugh·ti·erhaugh·ti·est

Full Definition of HAUGHTY

: blatantly and disdainfully proud

— haugh·ti·ly \ˈhȯ-tə-lē, ˈhä-\ adverb

— haugh·ti·ness \ˈhȯ-tē-nəs, ˈhä-\ noun

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Origin of HAUGHTY

obsolete haught, from Middle English haute, from Anglo-French halt, haut, literally, high, from Latin altus — more at old

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to HAUGHTY

Synonyms: assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, arrogant, 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 HAUGHTY

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>.