imperious

adjective

im·​pe·​ri·​ous im-ˈpir-ē-əs 

1

a

: marked by arrogant assurance : domineering

b

: befitting or characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments : commanding, dominant

an imperious manner

2

: intensely compelling : urgent

the imperious problems of the new age

—J. F. Kennedy

imperiously adverb

imperiousness noun

Synonyms

• authoritarian
• domineering
• arrogant
• authoritative
• autocratic
• despotic
• tyrannical
• tyrannic
• aggressive
• overbearing

Choose the Right Synonym for imperious

masterful, domineering, imperious, peremptory, imperative mean tending to impose one's will on others.

masterful implies a strong personality and ability to act authoritatively.

her masterful personality soon dominated the movement

domineering suggests an overbearing or arbitrary manner and an obstinate determination to enforce one's will.

children controlled by domineering parents

imperious implies a commanding nature or manner and often suggests arrogant assurance.

an imperious executive used to getting his own way

peremptory implies an abrupt dictatorial manner coupled with an unwillingness to brook disobedience or dissent.

given a peremptory dismissal

imperative implies peremptoriness arising more from the urgency of the situation than from an inherent will to dominate.

an imperative appeal for assistance

Examples of imperious in a Sentence

an imperious little boy who liked to tell the other scouts what to do

an imperious movie star who thinks she's some sort of goddess

Recent Examples on the Web

There are six pairs of actors playing the two leads (along with several different Raouls and Madame Girys, the latter being our spooky, imperious tour guide through the whole shebang). —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025

Behind the imperious trio of Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Odyssey Sims, the Indiana Fever fought off the Las Vegas Aces 90-83 to force their WNBA semifinal series to a win-or-go-home Game 5 in Sin City on Tuesday night. —Frank Nunns O'Connell 11 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025

Kirk had been building his reputation as an imperious, right-wing avenger on college campuses, debating anyone willing to step up to the microphone to challenge him. —Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025

Premier League leader Liverpool cannot stop winning and enters Saturday's Merseyside derby in imperious form. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin imperiōsus "exercising authority, domineering," from imperium "authority over family members and slaves exercised by the head of a household, supreme administrative authority, dominion" + -ōsus -ous — more at empire

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for imperious

• delirious
• mysterious
• cereus
• nereus
• serious
• sirius
• deleterious

Kids Definition

imperious

adjective

im·​pe·​ri·​ous im-ˈpir-ē-əs 

1

: behaving like someone who is a supreme ruler

2

: imperative entry 1 sense 2, urgent

the imperious problems of a new age

imperiously adverb

imperiousness noun