proud

adjective

ˈprau̇d 

1

: feeling or showing pride: such as

a

: having or displaying excessive self-esteem

b

: much pleased : exultant

c

: having proper self-respect

2

a

: marked by stateliness : magnificent

b

: giving reason for pride : glorious

the proudest moment in her life

3

: vigorous, spirited

a proud steed

4

chiefly British : raised above a surrounding area

a proud design on a stamp

proudly adverb

Synonyms of proud

• arrogant
• superior
• smug
• disdainful
• prideful
• haughty
• cavalier
• confident

Choose the Right Synonym for proud

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 proud in a Sentence

They are the proud parents of a hero.

I was proud that I never gave in.

She's the proud owner of a new car.

Her proudest accomplishment was to finish school.

He has a proud manner.

a proud and opinionated person

She's too proud to accept their charity.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Tim would be so proud of whichever Kraft employee saw all these Europeans falling in love with Ranch dressing and designed them a travel kit. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026

The proud mom shares the twins as well as son James, 23, with husband Matthew Broderick. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 23 June 2026

Longo is also proud of keeping taxes steady and reducing municipal debt. — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Those two moments back-to-back, the proposal and then Del and Colton, their dance by the pond, are probably among my proudest moments. — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English prūd, probably from Old French prod, prud, prou advantageous, just, wise, bold, from Late Latin prode advantage, advantageous, back-formation from Latin prodesse to be advantageous, from pro-, prod- for, in favor + esse to be — more at pro-, is

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing proud

• do proud
• house-proud
• proud flesh
• purse-proud

Rhymes for proud

• bowed
• browed
• cloud
• cowed
• crowd
• dowd
• loud
• ploughed
• plowed
• shroud
• sowed
• stroud

Kids Definition

proud

adjective

ˈprau̇d 

1

a

: having or displaying excessive self-esteem

a proud manner

b

: much pleased

proud parents of a hero

c

: having proper self-respect

too proud to beg

2

: magnificent sense 1, glorious

a proud record

3

: vigorous sense 1, spirited

a proud horse

proudly adverb