arrogant
adjective
ar·ro·gant
ˈer-ə-gənt 
ˈa-rə-
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
arrogantly
adverb
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
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
The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Being a Housewife is a wonderful way to learn how to navigate a new socioeconomic class, but Brit is too arrogant to humble herself and learn from the women.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 9 June 2025
Not to be arrogant, but our Best-Ever Succotash Recipe lives up to its name, and all of the five-star reviewers seem to agree with us.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for arrogant
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Being a Housewife is a wonderful way to learn how to navigate a new socioeconomic class, but Brit is too arrogant to humble herself and learn from the women.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 9 June 2025
Not to be arrogant, but our Best-Ever Succotash Recipe lives up to its name, and all of the five-star reviewers seem to agree with us.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for arrogant
Cite this Entry
“Arrogant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrogant. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
arrogant
adjective
ar·ro·gant
ˈar-ə-gənt
1
: overly proud of oneself or one's own opinions
2
: marked by arrogance
arrogant remarks
arrogantly
adverb
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