1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the haughty waiter smirked when I remarked that it was odd that a French restaurant didn't even have french fries on the menu

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective haughty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of haughty are arrogant, disdainful, insolent, lordly, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

In what contexts can arrogant take the place of haughty?

The words arrogant and haughty can be used in similar contexts, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When might disdainful be a better fit than haughty?

In some situations, the words disdainful and haughty are roughly equivalent. However, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When could insolent be used to replace haughty?

While the synonyms insolent and haughty are close in meaning, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

Where would lordly be a reasonable alternative to haughty?

While in some cases nearly identical to haughty, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

When would overbearing be a good substitute for haughty?

Although the words overbearing and haughty have much in common, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

When can proud be used instead of haughty?

The meanings of proud and haughty largely overlap; however, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When is supercilious a more appropriate choice than haughty?

The synonyms supercilious and haughty are sometimes interchangeable, but supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

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 haughty Stories of haughty people scheming and plucky servants improving alarm clocks attract smaller audiences than, say, trench warfare. Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025 But Olson recognized that Swanson was no bitter recluse or haughty diva in the mold of Norma Desmond. Scott Huver, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025 Santa Monica was a town in flux when Miller was in high school at the turn of the millennium: a Berkeley meets Beverly Hills where haughty affluence was rapidly eclipsing the Birkenstocks and counterculture bumper stickers. Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025 Schwarzenegger stars as the haughty, sleazy eldest son of a wealthy family whose patriarch and matriarch are portrayed by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey, respectively. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for haughty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haughty
Adjective
  • These early years emphasized goofiness, offensiveness, and mocking arrogant celebrities who pushed their platforms at award shows.
    Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
  • The announcement was made during a backstage segment involving NXT General Manager Ava and the arrogant superstar Lexis King.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Erica Mosca is a proud first-generation college graduate who is a former teacher, former nonprofit founder and executive director, and small business owner who is the first Filipina to serve in the Nevada State Legislature representing District 14.
    Erica Mosca, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The academy noted that Greene was proud to have played roles that weren't related to his background.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Wise minds inside the Trump administration will hopefully choose to drop a suit first introduced during by a Biden administration reflexively disdainful of big.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Sylvias have expressed some reservations about how cavalier Boy Kavalier has been toward the hybrids’ mental and physical health.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Other breeds on the list include Tibetan mastiff, spinone Italiano, cavalier king Charles spniel, Chinese crested, and dogue de Bordeaux, among the most popular.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Howard sells his smug malice, digging into Matt in a way no one has before until the whole thing devolves into a physical fight.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, Martineau’s sign angered plenty of Democrats, some of whom were already worried that smug liberal activists are harming the party.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For the Connecticut Sun and its fans, the past is prideful, the future is murky.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Admittedly, that’s attributable less to Kahn himself — who remains as prideful and abrasive as ever, only now with a noticeably different voice — than the narrative function his character serves.
    Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Haughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haughty. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on haughty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!