Arrogant
Behaving in a proud, superior manner; overestimating one’s importance or ability
adjectiveArrogant
Behaving in a proud, superior manner; overestimating one’s importance or ability
adjectiveImagine This
People who dress elegantly usually act as if they are more superior.
Sounds Like
AR-uh-guhnt
Looks Like
A smug-looking person with a lifted chin, upright posture, and a self-satisfied expression
Remember This
Arrogant describes an attitude or behavior rather than a mere feeling of pride; not all confident or successful people are arrogant.
Other Forms
Connect With
ego, vanity, conceit, smugness, self-importance
Note
Arrogant is negative in tone. Distinguish from simply being proud or confident. Avoid misconstruing 'arrogant' as 'self-confident' when the behavior shows disdain for others or an inflated sense of worth.
Study Deeper
- The manager dismissed the arrogant employee's excuses as irrelevant to the team's goals.
- Her arrogant remarks alienated her classmates and earned her a reputation for insensitivity.
From Latin arrogans, present participle of arrogare 'to claim for oneself', from ad- 'to' + rogare 'to ask'.
Mnemonic: ARROGANT pairs with ARROGATE — both involve claiming something for oneself; arrogant people feel entitled to claim more than they deserve.
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Instigate
verbTo urge, provoke, or start something, often by incitement; to initiate an action or event.
Decorous
adjectiveCharacterized by proper, tasteful, and socially appropriate conduct or dress; showing good manners and propriety.
Derivative
adjective (also noun)Derived from something else; not original or inventive. In mathematics, the derivative is the instantaneous rate of change of a function.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
Adept
adjectiveHaving or showing a high level of skill or proficiency; very capable.