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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Thus the god of the clan, the totemic principle, can be none other than the clan itself, but the clan transfigured and imagined.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Fire changed human habitation in ways our ancestors could hardly have imagined.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The series has devolved into a hysteria that the young and arrogant Timberwolves feed on since that first quarter of Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
However, many thought Tilson Thomas too brash and arrogant to lead an orchestra, and, around the same time, Tilson Thomas fell in with New York’s disco-hopping crowd.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Although UConn, defending champion, was undefeated until facing South Carolina in the Final Four, Auriemma had envisioned scenarios in which the Huskies could come up short, particularly if both Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong had bad shooting nights.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
Originally, the couple envisioned a destination wedding, but decided against traveling with their small children.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Warnings, laments, and odes to renewal were expressed pictorially as dying days under bleeding heavens, belching volcanoes, proud icebergs, lavish rainbows amid spangling, mist-suffusing sunlight and dawns of peace and hope.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Simulation Academy at Yale is proud to announce the Graduation of approximately 75 students on Saturday, May 2.—
Simulation Academy at Yale,
Hartford Courant,
4 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
-
Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In reply, Rishabh Pant’s 42 went in vain as Lucknow faltered to finish with 155-8 in 20 overs, and then ultimately lost the Super Over.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
While rescuers searched in vain, distraught relatives of passengers rushed to the ValuJet counter at Miami International.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But for many, the occasion carried a deeper meaning, one centered on those who dreamed of connecting Los Angeles to Chicago by road generations before them.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
One participant dreamed of asking for help from a fellow-passenger in a car.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conceited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceited. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
