as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a vainglorious woman who always insists on being the center of attention
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Recent Examples of vainglorious
Donald Trump’s vainglorious birthday parade masquerading as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army may get drenched in a rainy DC this Flag Day, but the financial sun is shining a bit brighter for some suffering Hollywood vendors.
—
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 June 2025
Not to the founders — three vainglorious men who had been born with the world in their hands and their futures glittering like gold coins waiting to be spent — but to the people of Hartford.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 June 2025
Too many American leaders seem more focused on the vainglorious posturing that too often leads to armed conflict.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2025
Hwang’s vainglorious campaign underscores his later experience producing his next play, Face Value, and facing the death of his father, Henry Yuan Hwang (HYH), a patriotic immigrant and founder of Far East National Bank.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vainglorious
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 June 2025
Not to the founders — three vainglorious men who had been born with the world in their hands and their futures glittering like gold coins waiting to be spent — but to the people of Hartford.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 June 2025
Too many American leaders seem more focused on the vainglorious posturing that too often leads to armed conflict.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2025
Hwang’s vainglorious campaign underscores his later experience producing his next play, Face Value, and facing the death of his father, Henry Yuan Hwang (HYH), a patriotic immigrant and founder of Far East National Bank.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vainglorious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vainglorious
Adjective
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However, Ralph has a smug attitude when talking to Brad.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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Colum’s smug assurance that the wedding will happen soon is rocked when Ned shows up with news of the Grants’ suspicions about the raid.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Jean stepped out as Nia approached—lean and arrogant, a cigarette pinched between her lips.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
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Gil, her nemesis, is hot, arrogant and unfortunately extremely kissable.—
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Central Texas has a proud tradition of producing and celebrating flavorful sodas.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
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The godfather of modern West Indian fast bowling shakes his head slowly, having been reminded what happened the last time his once proud and near-invincible team played Test cricket.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Was Paul McLaughlin’s death in vain?—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Like Muscle Man, Mixtape follows a self-important, inarticulate mediocrity on the fringe of a minor American metropolis.—
Robert Rubsam,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
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Their music provided a suitably self-important soundtrack as Great Recession-era artisanal hipsterdom faded into the careerist hopefulness of the latter Obama years, when Everlane minimalism supplanted lumberjack plaid.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The kooky characters surrounding Judge Stone included the conceited prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), the imposing bailiff Bull Shannon (Richard Moll), and the idealistic public defender Christine Sullivan (Markie Post), each of whom had various quirks of their own.—
Dan Heching,
EW.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
17 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While The Morning Show presents the news business as glossy and glamorous (and often a little pompous), The Paper takes the opposite view with the documentary crew from The Office now focusing on a dying newspaper in Ohio.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
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Guigal’s strategy isn’t built on pompous conservatism, but in long-term thinking.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Some of it’s considerate and protective, some of it’s selfish.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
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Listening also means making choices that can feel selfish in the moment.—
Melissa Gonzalez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vainglorious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vainglorious. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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