as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a conceited basketball player who was always too busy even to sign autographs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in imagined
to form a mental picture of
after a huge meal like that, I cannot conceit eating another thing for the rest of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of conceited
Wayne Parker, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026
The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
But Grande’s conceited blonde bubblehead gains in stature here as Glinda assumes statesmanlike responsibility to spread goodness in Oz, while experiencing crushing romantic disappointment that humbles her and deflates her vanity.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025
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
This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
Rory Kinnear steals some of the best lines as the conceited British prime minister, and Ato Essandoh, as Kate’s deputy chief, plays the ever-flustered man surrounded by extremely capable women with admirable humor, charm, and confidence.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
The baritone Davide Luciano was suave as the conceited army sergeant Belcore; as the quack doctor Dulcamara, who provides the cheap wine that Nemorino takes as a love potion, the baritone Ambrogio Maestri was robust without being over-the-top.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2023
Last year has to be a low, dishonest year and a triumph for no one but the conceited and dumb.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 5 Jan. 2023
Adjective
Avoid Burying Praise in Negatives To avoid making children too conceited, parents might bury praise in the midst of negatives.
—Wayne Parker, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026
The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
But Grande’s conceited blonde bubblehead gains in stature here as Glinda assumes statesmanlike responsibility to spread goodness in Oz, while experiencing crushing romantic disappointment that humbles her and deflates her vanity.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025
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
This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
Rory Kinnear steals some of the best lines as the conceited British prime minister, and Ato Essandoh, as Kate’s deputy chief, plays the ever-flustered man surrounded by extremely capable women with admirable humor, charm, and confidence.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
The baritone Davide Luciano was suave as the conceited army sergeant Belcore; as the quack doctor Dulcamara, who provides the cheap wine that Nemorino takes as a love potion, the baritone Ambrogio Maestri was robust without being over-the-top.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2023
Last year has to be a low, dishonest year and a triumph for no one but the conceited and dumb.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 5 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceited
Adjective
-
Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
-
But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The spectral figures, marked by their sarong colors, imagined Zodiacs, doshas and more, operate haunto-structurally.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
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Other pieces, ranging from caps and T-shirts to tote bags, are adorned with both brand names as well as laurels and pomelos — a key ingredient in the sweet treats imagined for the occasion by Ladurée executive chef of pastry Julien Alvarez.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The tension between the two boils over into a confrontation which only Eisenhower can adjudicate, a task complicated by his own arrogant British subordinate, a wiry and dislikable General Bernard Montgomery - played with a villainous verve bordering on the pantomime by Damian Lewis.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
29 May 2026
-
Public policy decisions always need to strive for middle ground, and those leadership decisions often referred to as arrogant can just as easily be called principled leadership.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Freeman envisioned the steep bluff as a natural amphitheater and arranged the villas on staggered terraces that hug the headland to ensure unobstructed ocean views over the roofs below.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Ian Cinnamon, Apex’s chief executive officer and co-founder, said the company was established to support proliferated constellations similar to those envisioned under Golden Dome.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
His eyes were on her, inviting her to be proud of his verticality.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Popovich will undoubtedly be proud, thrilled and probably not too surprised.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Moving a blade back and forth to try to saw biscuits apart will make their layers stick (and ruin the rise).—
Ella Quittner,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
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Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Three Knights pitchers tried in vain as the Bruins diced up the diamond even though UCF walked UCLA and NCAA home-run leader Megan Grant three times.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
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The fact that the highlight of Henri’s wartime experience seems to be the moment Petain arrives in Limoges for a parade, only to shun him during a meet-and-greet afterwards, reveals to what extent all his efforts were in vain.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The film follows five childhood friends — Patrick, Shiv, Rian, Oli and Conor — who once dreamed of escaping their circumstances and building better lives.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
4 June 2026
-
That’s not to say buyers haven’t dreamed big — sometimes very big.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conceited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceited. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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