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aplomb was our Word of the Day on 05/01/2014. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of aplomb in a Sentence
- In "The Most Famous Man in America," Applegate, a Ph.D. in American studies from Yale, tells this grand story with aplomb, intelligence and a sure feel for historical context. —Michael Kazin, New York Times Book Review, 16 July 2006
- Stefan Soltesz conducts the excellent chorus and orchestra with aplomb, and television director Brian Large does his usual exemplary job. —Alan Wagner, Opera News, November 2001
- During a script conference recounted in the New Yorker piece, Ley fielded a variety of questions with striking aplomb that sometimes verged on arrogance. —Frank Kuznik, Air & Space, April/May 1995
He showed great aplomb in dealing with the reporters.
you've handled a difficult situation with perfect aplomb
Recent Examples of aplomb from the Web
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Mounted with a tech binding these boards are plenty light for long skin track slogs but can also handle any snow type or terrain with aplomb.
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Still, the newer cast tackled Mulaney’s material with aplomb, leading to one of the strongest episodes of the season.
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What’s really fun about The Hellfire Club are the real-life characters who pop up and whom Tapper sketches with aplomb.
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Laurent Naouri was gravelly but properly pathetic as Cendrillon’s henpecked father; Ying Fang and Maya Lahyani carried off the goofy stepsisters with aplomb.
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The clip was taken from a previous Q&A-style interview Smalling had done whilst on England duty to which Kane was one of his answers, but the cheeky FA Cup sensed the opportunity to exercise some wicked bantz and executed with aplomb...
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The best part of Blockers is its cast, all of whom inhabit their roles with aplomb and humanity, elevating the film from standard comedy fare to something that can be genuinely touching.
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Let’s give this to Cora, then, a rookie manager handed an insanely tough task but who should complete it with aplomb.
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What’s novel about this story is that Clifford isn’t putting up with such attacks and is more than able to brush them off with aplomb.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aplomb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
In the 19th century, English speakers borrowed aplomb, meaning "composure," from French. "Aplomb" can also mean "perpendicularity" in French and comes from the phrase a plomb, meaning "perpendicularly or literally "according to the plummet." A plummet is a lead weight that is attached to a line and used to determine vertical alignment. Not surprisingly, "aplomb" and English words like "plumber" and the verb "plumb" ("to measure depth" and "to explore critically and minutely") ultimately trace back to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum."
Origin and Etymology of aplomb
French, literally, perpendicularity, from Middle French, from a plomb, literally, according to the plummet
aplomb Synonyms
Synonyms
assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-trust;
Antonyms
Near Antonyms
Related Words
cockiness, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egoism, egotism, hubris, overconfidence, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-applause, self-assumption, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vanity;
Synonym Discussion of aplomb
confidence, assurance, self-possession, aplomb mean a state of mind or a manner marked by easy coolness and freedom from uncertainty, diffidence, or embarrassment. confidence stresses faith in oneself and one's powers without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance.
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- the confidence that comes from long experience
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- handled the cross-examination with complete assurance
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- answered the insolent question with complete self-possession
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- handled the reporters with great aplomb
APLOMB Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of aplomb for English Language Learners
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: confidence and skill shown especially in a difficult situation
APLOMB Defined for Kids
noun
\
ə-ˈpläm
\
Definition of aplomb for Students
: confidence and skill shown especially in a difficult situation
He handled the questions with great aplomb.
Learn More about aplomb
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See words that rhyme with aplomb Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for aplomb Spanish Central: Translation of aplomb Nglish: Translation of aplomb for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
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