arrogant

adjective

ar·ro·gant | \ ˈer-ə-gənt

, ˈa-rə-\

Definition of arrogant

1 : exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner an arrogant official

2 : showing an offensive attitude of superiority : proceeding from or characterized by arrogance an arrogant reply

Other Words from arrogant Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about arrogant

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Choose the Right Synonym for arrogant

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors. proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness. too proud to take charity arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted. a conceited and arrogant executive haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position. a haughty aristocrat lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power. a lordly condescension insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness. ignored by an insolent waiter overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence. an overbearing supervisor supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness. an aloof and supercilious manner disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness. disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of arrogant in a Sentence

Tim Blixseth, the founder of the Yellowstone Club and other gated hideaways, tells Frank: "I don't like most rich people. They can be arrogant." This from a man who owns two Shih Tzus named Learjet and G2. — Alex Beam, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 2007 Arrogant execs are not the only targets of investors' ire. … There's no telling how much money analysts such as Meeker cost investors with their interminable buy recommendations on Internet stocks that eventually went bust. — Marcia Vickers et al., Business Week, 25 Feb. 2002 Despite her social and business status in Washington, Graham remained unassuming and down to earth. Her quiet but steady courage affirmed women such as Geneva Overhosler, a former editor and Post ombudsman, by showing a woman could be powerful without being arrogant. — Mark Fitzgerald et al., Editor & Publisher, 23 July 2001 Shakespeare must have known that while his audiences loved to see villains punished and arrogant young men humbled, they did not want to fidget and squirm through mea culpas before the final scene. — Elaine Showalter, Civilization, April/May 1999 She's first in her class, but she's not arrogant about it. the arrogant young lawyer elbowed his way to the head of the line of customers, declaring that he was too busy to wait like everybody else

Recent Examples on the Web

That starts with leadership that abandons single-minded, arrogant notions. — John O'connor, The Seattle Times, "Gov. Pritzker gives Democrats near-record power in Illinois," 14 Jan. 2019 The first half of the movie represents the idealized version of modern crime: the indulgent, arrogant operation of overachievers. — Vogue, "The Best New Year’s Eve–Theme Movies and TV Shows to Watch Tonight," 31 Dec. 2018 Enough is enough, time to tell the arrogant, unelected EU bullies where to go. — Adam Shaw, Fox News, "Theresa May warns EU she will not overturn Brexit referendum after bloc rejects deal," 21 Sep. 2018 The rhetoric of the NFFA is just passable enough to seem plausible, chiefly conveyed by actor Patch Darragh as a doughy, duplicitous chief of staff who wears his arrogant privilege like another tacky lapel pin. — Mark Olsen, latimes.com, "Review: 'The First Purge' delivers genre pleasures with a timely message of resilience," 3 July 2018 Nick’s main contact is Bashir (played by Fajer Kaisi), a well-educated, arrogant radical who helps the banker trade stocks from the confines of the cell. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, ""Invisible Hand" Has Fresh Urgency At TheaterWorks," 1 June 2018 Despite Morgan’s poor and somewhat arrogant showing, Untermyer and the Pujo Committee, named after the Louisiana congressman who chaired it, could not prove their grand economic conspiracy. — Daniel Fernandez, Smithsonian, "Before Zuckerberg, These Six Corporate Titans Testified Before Congress," 10 Apr. 2018 Akroyd plays an arrogant financial broker named who gets caught up in an experiment hatched by his employers, The Dukes. — Lori Keong, Marie Claire, "7 Offbeat Christmas Movies to Watch with Your Family," 15 Nov. 2016 Macfayden makes the easy-to-dislike Henry a complex mixture of arrogant and vulnerable. — Kristi Turnquist, OregonLive.com, "TV This Week: 'Howards End'; 'Killing Eve'; 'Deadliest Catch'; 'Elvis Presley: The Searcher'," 8 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'arrogant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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6 Feb 2019

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The first known use of arrogant was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for arrogant

arrogant

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of arrogant

: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people : having or showing arrogance

See the full definition for arrogant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

arrogant

adjective

ar·ro·gant | \ ˈer-ə-gənt