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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of arrogant Both series deal with the period between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and chronicle the rise of Anakin Skywalker from arrogant Padawan to powerful Jedi Master. —

Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 19 Nov. 2024 Herbert Ross, the film’s arrogant director, bullied Roberts, finding fault with all of her choices. —

Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Oct. 2024 The arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) then has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student, for better or worse. —

Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024 The truth is that women often downplay their accomplishments to avoid being perceived as arrogant, but this approach can unintentionally undermine your professional growth. —

Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for arrogant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arrogant

Adjective

If Thompson were the CEO of a toy company, would the public have been so cavalier about the loss of life?

Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Pundits and analysts can afford to be cavalier about it; U.S. policymakers with actual responsibility on their shoulders can't.

Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024