imperious

1 of 2

adjective

im·​pe·​ri·​ous im-ˈpir-ē-əs 

1

a

: marked by arrogant assurance : domineering

… a kind of arrogant potentate too imperious to acknowledge weaknesses common to ordinary men.

—Robert Dalleck

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.

—John F. Kennedy

imperiously adverb

imperiousness noun

imperiousness

2 of 2

noun

im·​pe·​ri·​ous·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being imperious

Synonyms of imperious

Adjective

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

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

Adjective

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

Adjective

Steele’s portrayal of imperious, glamorous Tanya provides some of the show’s biggest laughs. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Djokovic was imperious against Tsitsipas, and should be able to maneuver Rinderknech around despite his booming serve and all-attack game. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Edward Juvier is raspy and rumpled as the imperious theater producer Bela Zangler. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026

Starmer, by contrast, looks imperious on paper, with an overwhelming parliamentary majority and no way for opponents to challenge him until 2029. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Adjective

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for imperious

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

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