variants also hifalutin
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as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude her highfalutin relatives from New York made the snide remark that her little house "has that lived-in look"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 highfalutin There was nothing highfalutin or fake about her. Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2025 In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 This sounds so highfalutin, but whatever. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025 Newsom, for all his highfalutin rhetoric about championing all Californians, just can’t quit the gentry and the insiders who have made his career. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for highfalutin
Adjective
  • Her larger-than-life ego and past as a shaman make Player 044 come off as arrogant and selfish, getting under just about everyone's skin.
    EW.com, EW.com, 4 July 2025
  • In 2022, Ackles joined the cast of Prime Video's The Boys as arrogant superhero Soldier Boy.
    Brianne Tracy, People.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • This can lead to greater customer satisfaction and superior end-user experience—especially in internet-facing domains such as media streaming, Web gaming and trading, which require high performance, real-time response and low-latency connectivity.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • With superior high-carbon stainless steel blades, this knife set offers top-notch accuracy and precision.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • In Superman, Bennett steps into the shoes of Steve Lombard, the Daily Planet's smug sports reporter.
    EW.com, EW.com, 28 June 2025
  • One of Ferrell’s biggest and best movies was this hilarious racing spoof, which followed the rise and fall and rise of a smug champion racer, his complicated friendship with best pal and fellow racer John C. Reilly, and his rivalry with an effete, snotty Frenchman played by Sacha Baron Cohen.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Trump’s rhetorical bombing raids against Fed Chair Jerome Powell could backfire spectacularly on Asia.
    William Pesek, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • But the rhetorical hostility is deeply ingrained in the regime.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Yes, even more important than excellence in math and science.
    Linda McMahon, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • How to spot a fake Social Security scam email While phishing emails are designed to look convincing, there are always subtle but important signs that give them away.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Our more than 18,000 Bombardier employees are proud to welcome this new, important customer to our family.
    Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Once again, Newsweek is proud to highlight your voices.
    Joshua Sammons, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sitting in a room full of pretentious ex-friends and mentally eviscerating them all is a universal human experience.
    Literary Hub July 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
  • And a slightly surreal, fantastical closing scene is puzzling and pretentious rather than provocative.
    Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • Vance was similarly cavalier about the Administration’s noncompliance with court orders—and even about the fact that Abrego Garcia, convicted of no crime in the United States or El Salvador, has been imprisoned indefinitely.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
  • Meet my very good boys (pictured): Scooter is a nine-year-old cavapoo (cavalier King Charles spaniel and poodle mix).
    Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/highfalutin. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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