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as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude an imperious movie star who thinks she's some sort of goddess

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word imperious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of imperious are domineering, imperative, masterful, and peremptory. While all these words mean "tending to impose one's will on others," imperious implies a commanding nature or manner and often suggests arrogant assurance.

an imperious executive used to getting his own way

When would domineering be a good substitute for imperious?

The synonyms domineering and imperious are sometimes interchangeable, but domineering suggests an overbearing or arbitrary manner and an obstinate determination to enforce one's will.

children controlled by domineering parents

When could imperative be used to replace imperious?

While the synonyms imperative and imperious are close in meaning, imperative implies peremptoriness arising more from the urgency of the situation than from an inherent will to dominate.

an imperative appeal for assistance

In what contexts can masterful take the place of imperious?

The words masterful and imperious can be used in similar contexts, but masterful implies a strong personality and ability to act authoritatively.

her masterful personality soon dominated the movement

When is it sensible to use peremptory instead of imperious?

The words peremptory and imperious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, peremptory implies an abrupt dictatorial manner coupled with an unwillingness to brook disobedience or dissent.

given a peremptory dismissal

Examples of imperious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The playwright and Beyer put a fresh spin on the sibling whose past is a threat to the president’s future Especially challenging for Stephanie is the imperious first lady. Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2024 Jones brought the towering villain Darth Vader to life with his imperious, unforgettable voice. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2024 Saturday night exemplified how the imperious and distant Newsom has horrible relations with his fellow Democrats in the Legislature. Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024 Laurent is extraordinary as a queen who remains stubbornly imperious even with nothing left to lord over, her makeup growing harsher and more wraithlike as her gowns turn to drooping dust ruffles. Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for imperious 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'imperious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near imperious

Cite this Entry

“Imperious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperious. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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