cavalier

²cavalier

adj

Definition of CAVALIER

1

: debonair

2

: marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters <a cavalier attitude toward money>

3

a capitalized : of or relating to the party of Charles I of England in his struggles with the Puritans and Parliament b : aristocratic c capitalized : of or relating to the English Cavalier poets of the mid-17th century

— ca·va·lier·ism \-ˌi-zəm\ noun

— cav·a·lier·ly adverb

Examples of CAVALIER

1. They are too cavalier in their treatment of others.
2. She has a cavalier attitude about spending money.
3. He has a cavalier disregard for the rights of others.

First Known Use of CAVALIER

circa 1641

Related to CAVALIER

Synonyms: assumptive, bumptious, arrogant, 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

Related Words: authoritarian, bossy, dominant, dominating, domineering, magisterial, pontifical, pontificating; condescending, disdainful, patronizing; impertinent, impudent, saucy; snobbish, snobby, snooty; blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering, vain, vainglorious; complacent, conceited, egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), hubristic, narcissistic, orgulous, prideful, proud, self-affected, self-applauding, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up; self-flattering, self-loving, self-promoting; brash, forward, uninhibited, unreserved; extroverted (also extraverted), immodest

Near Antonyms: bashful, cowering, cringing, demure, diffident, introverted, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, self-critical, self-doubting, sheepish, shrinking, shy, subdued, timid; acquiescent, compliant, deferential, meek, passive, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive, unassuming, unobtrusive, yielding; quiet, reserved, retiring

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