variants
also hifalutin
1
as in rhetoric
full of fine words and fancy expressions
his highfalutin paean to the working class failed to win over a crowd that wanted to hear down-to-earth proposals for economic relief
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
her highfalutin relatives from New York made the snide remark that her little house "has that lived-in look"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in superior
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
refused to be intimidated by the highfalutin manner of the sales staff in the fashionable boutique
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in smug
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
"fine Southern cuisine" sounds a bit highfalutin for a barbecue shack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 highfalutin
Whitmer makes her case in less than 160 pages with almost no highfalutin language.
—
Amanda Uhle, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Offerman brings a great counterpoint to these highfalutin words with his innate buff-dude physicality.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024
The way his vivid, relatable characters discuss the big questions, with so much soul and hang-looseness, free from any highfalutin airs, has long been something of a north star for me as a movie lover and as a talker.
—David Marchese, New York Times, 1 June 2024
Most important to Mongers' co-founders, though, was to reimagine the highfalutin nature of wine, cheese and other delicacies into a format that is laid back.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for highfalutin 
Amanda Uhle, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Offerman brings a great counterpoint to these highfalutin words with his innate buff-dude physicality.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024
The way his vivid, relatable characters discuss the big questions, with so much soul and hang-looseness, free from any highfalutin airs, has long been something of a north star for me as a movie lover and as a talker.
—David Marchese, New York Times, 1 June 2024
Most important to Mongers' co-founders, though, was to reimagine the highfalutin nature of wine, cheese and other delicacies into a format that is laid back.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for highfalutin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for highfalutin
Adjective
-
Manji will appear as Crispin, an arrogant, pompous employee at a fancy, high-end hardware store who snubs George.Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
-
My 21-year-old grandson is a dramatic and arrogant know-it-all.Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
However, the Core Ultra 9 285K has 10 more cores than the M4 Pro, and more cores prove superior in tasks like video encoding and rendering (HandBrake) and other workstation-grade tasks (see below).PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
-
For me, it’s been superior to reading books on my phone.Scott Kramer, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
But while the 118 is able to save both Celeste and her mother-in-law’s final resting place, a smug Trent trips and drops the vase, an appropriate punchline to a very silly cold open.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
-
The smug conventional wisdom has it that voters don’t care much about abstractions like democracy or the rule of law.Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
These subtle symbolic and rhetorical shifts suggest that North Korea is dissatisfied with China.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
-
But even when adjusted for rhetorical inflation, Trump has signaled plans for a starkly different sort of tariff regime.Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Defacing sites or breaking the rules at important international sites has led to charges and serious fines for tourists on many occasions.Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
-
Several fossil teeth dating back 1.77 million years hold some important clues into our ape and human origins.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Gregory is touched by the compliment and proud of his ability to connect with a student, but Darnell isn’t pleased with the idea of another man forming a bond with his son.Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
-
Honorees who have contributed to proud and authentic Jewish storytelling will include: Sheryl Sandberg’s Screams before Silence, Netflix’s Fauda and Jewish Matchmaking, FX’s The Patient, Amazon’s Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey, and David Baddiel’s documentary, Jews Don’t Count.Marc Berman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Yet Connell of all people, whose pretentious classmates use novels to seem superior, should know that the love of literature is hardly disinterested.Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
-
Once the very idea of holding a wine tasting at one’s home was considered a pretentious way of ruining a convivial party.John Mariani, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Katie: my fury was boundless in that moment that first of all, the doctor could be so cavalier with just his prognosis.Outside Online, Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024
-
Too high to be cavalier with our words and actions.Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 17 Sep. 2024
Articles Related to highfalutin
Thesaurus Entries Near highfalutin
Cite this Entry
“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/highfalutin. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share