ARROGANCE Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

arrogance

noun

ˈer-ə-gən(t)s

Definition of arrogance

as in superiority

an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims in his arrogance the president of the club made all the arrangements for the annual banquet without consulting the members

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of arrogance But while that might suggest arrogance, Dawson’s answer to another question reflects humility. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 Aemond, too, for that matter, while Daemon’s arrogance continues to get Team Black into all sorts of predicaments. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 But the league’s own research found that what reads as charisma in Dallas can land as arrogance in Düsseldorf. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 However, confidence can quickly turn into arrogance, so remember to stay grounded. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for arrogance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arrogance

Noun

Meanwhile, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which sees space superiority as essential to winning future wars, is developing a range of space capabilities as well as a suite of weapons that can attack satellites.

— Kathleen Curlee, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
Credibility is affected deeply by strategic cultural assessments about superiority and inferiority, and notions about when, where, how and for whom the credibility matters.

— Christopher Nichols, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of superiority

Noun

Deafheaven have long balanced playful disdain for black metal purism with a deeper understanding of the genre than either critics or acolytes of 2013’s Sunbather gave them credit for.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
But today, Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2 to 1 in the state, and the current White House occupant shares a mutual disdain with the vast majority of Golden State voters.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of disdain

Noun

But coming off the back of that, there was all of this legislation that was pretty awful and generally, there were a lot of homophobic attitudes, still quite extreme, even as late as the 1990s.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Saudi Arabia has suffered fewer attacks than Gulf neighbours, its airspace has mostly stayed open, and the kingdom has projected a business-as-usual attitude.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of attitude

Noun

The haughtiness and audacity of RHONY set a precedent for future cities, making the infamous season nine Gangster Lunch an obvious scene to recreate.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Sarah and Billo were plain-sailing people who didn’t pursue beauty or seek out texture, whereas Fanny was an exquisite snob without the circumstances to support such haughtiness.

— Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of haughtiness

Noun

Moreno operated with an imperiousness toward both low-level employees and influential stakeholders.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
There’s something touching about her imperiousness, a regal vulnerability that shines through even in her romantic interaction with Dussie Mae (CJ Obilom), whom Levee has his predatory eye on.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of imperiousness

Noun

Aggie is appalled at Nile’s presumptuousness, his entitlement.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Optimistic Miami Dolphins fans — assuming there are any left right now; forgive the presumptuousness — could find a way to be (relatively) encouraged coming out of Thursday night’s game.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025

Definition of presumptuousness

Noun

It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
After a decade of being held together by pomposity and average players, the bill has come due.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 July 2026

Definition of pomposity

Browse Nearby Words

arrivistes

arrogance

arrogant

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Arrogance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arrogance. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of arrogance

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

syncretic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes