arrogance
noun
ar·ro·gance
ˈer-ə-gən(t)s 
ˈa-rə-
: an offensive attitude of superiority shown especially by excessively confident or rudely dismissive behavior
found her arrogance off-putting
the sheer arrogance of his comments
Examples of arrogance in a Sentence
He was like a movie star at his high school reunion, muting his arrogance and trying to be a regular guy for old times' sake. He seemed to genuinely appreciate the honor.
—
Carlo Rotella, New York Times Sports Magazine, June 2008
This kind of official arrogance is not new, of course, although it is perhaps more common in dictatorships than in democracies.
—Ian Buruma, New York Times Book Review, 17 Sept. 2006
Arrogance is, at once, what an athlete most needs and what fans least want to see.
—Dan Le Batard, ESPN, 15 Mar. 2004
A British expat who could have stepped out of a Graham Greene plot, Twyman makes an improbable Jamaican hero. His self-assurance borders on arrogance, particularly when something is not done precisely the way he would do it himself.
—Barry Estabrook, Gourmet, July 2003
Her arrogance has earned her a lot of enemies.
We were shocked by the arrogance of his comments.
Carlo Rotella, New York Times Sports Magazine, June 2008
This kind of official arrogance is not new, of course, although it is perhaps more common in dictatorships than in democracies.
—Ian Buruma, New York Times Book Review, 17 Sept. 2006
Arrogance is, at once, what an athlete most needs and what fans least want to see.
—Dan Le Batard, ESPN, 15 Mar. 2004
A British expat who could have stepped out of a Graham Greene plot, Twyman makes an improbable Jamaican hero. His self-assurance borders on arrogance, particularly when something is not done precisely the way he would do it himself.
—Barry Estabrook, Gourmet, July 2003
Her arrogance has earned her a lot of enemies.
We were shocked by the arrogance of his comments.
Recent Examples on the Web
Too few compliments make kids feel slighted, while too many can inspire arrogance.
—Wayne Parker, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026
Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
Noem was the public face of that disapproval, strutting forward with arrogance in the face of public censure, a veritable clown show of ineptitude.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The confidence bordering on arrogance.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arrogance
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Wayne Parker, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026
Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
Noem was the public face of that disapproval, strutting forward with arrogance in the face of public censure, a veritable clown show of ineptitude.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The confidence bordering on arrogance.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arrogance
Cite this Entry
“Arrogance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrogance. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
arrogance
noun
ar·ro·gance
ˈar-ə-gən(t)s
: a sense of one's own importance that shows itself in a proud and insulting way
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