variants
also hifalutin
1
as in rhetoric
full of fine words and fancy expressions
his highfalutin paean to the working class failed to win over a crowd that wanted to hear down-to-earth proposals for economic relief
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in superior
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
refused to be intimidated by the highfalutin manner of the sales staff in the fashionable boutique
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in smug
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
"fine Southern cuisine" sounds a bit highfalutin for a barbecue shack
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of highfalutin
Magazine editors weren’t the only highfalutin New Yorkers who fetishized the Post.
—
Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The dialogue is overly ornate, with long monologues filled with highfalutin references, and there’s no distinct characterization: A Bronx pawnbroker talks the same as a Manhattan equities trader.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 11 Apr. 2025
Its story clearly spoke to the widest swath of voters, even if many pundits predicted that the tonier, more highfalutin adult drama Conclave would emerge as a consensus winner.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
There was nothing highfalutin or fake about her.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The dialogue is overly ornate, with long monologues filled with highfalutin references, and there’s no distinct characterization: A Bronx pawnbroker talks the same as a Manhattan equities trader.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 11 Apr. 2025
Its story clearly spoke to the widest swath of voters, even if many pundits predicted that the tonier, more highfalutin adult drama Conclave would emerge as a consensus winner.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
There was nothing highfalutin or fake about her.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for highfalutin
Adjective
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Depicting Americans as arrogant, loud, boorish and demeaning of other cultures, the term has stuck and is still mentioned 60-plus years later.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The most radical overhaul of the tax code in our state’s history would require voter approval in November 2026, and that starts by portraying local governments as cartoonishly arrogant, bloated and unaccountable.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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There’s a reason for that; Canadian arenas have superior sightlines for cameras that deliver those moving images through the videoscope.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
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The Pura 80 Ultra features a large 1-inch sensor, variable aperture, and dual-periscope zoom system, delivering superior image quality.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Bertha was right, George is being a jerk, and Larry needs to wipe that smug smile off his face.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
-
And no scripture condones the smug enjoyment of it.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Egypt's move further amplifies how mere rhetorical support for the Gazans only goes so far.—
Daniel Markind,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
With examples drawn from Scripture and across the length of history, Paine commits rhetorical regicide.—
Matthew Redmond
August 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Fungi also play an important role in breaking down dead wood and leaves in forest ecosystems.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Aug. 2025
-
His background is in sports science, so body mechanics are important to him.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The judge relented in the face of his daughter’s determination, perhaps more than a little proud of her patriotic pluck.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The proud West End native's work at Cincinnati Preschool Promise goes above and beyond her job description.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Though Dirty Dom’s in-ring debut began in 2020, the pretentious son of Rey Mysterio Jr. inherited his slick ways from iconic WWE superstar Eddie Guerrero.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
7 Aug. 2025
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Brands that create fabulous-looking but pompous and pretentious campaigns just feel inauthentic.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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In Trump’s first term, U.S. allies quickly learned that the president was cavalier about classified information.—
KORI SCHAKE,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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In the video, the cavalier King Charles left people in stitches with her dramatic howls.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/highfalutin. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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