variants
also hifalutin
1
as in rhetorical
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 proud
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 pretentious
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of highfalutin
To use a highfalutin film-theory term, Reign of Fire is totally bonkers, and Bale and co-star Matthew McConaughey have a blast playing survivors waging war against the beasts.
—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Standing 787 feet tall, the tower was one of the last of the era — when downtown Dallas’ skyline was defined by highfalutin oil execs, bankers, financiers and the architects who used steel, concrete and glass to erect opulent monuments to their economic success.
—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
The comments of his teammates sounded highfalutin compared to Perry’s own assessment of his hot start with the Kings, one that was delayed by preseason knee surgery.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
31 Oct. 2025
Early on, Feld became Chicago’s most divisive restaurant, a flash point for critics of highfalutin many-course tasting menus.
—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Standing 787 feet tall, the tower was one of the last of the era — when downtown Dallas’ skyline was defined by highfalutin oil execs, bankers, financiers and the architects who used steel, concrete and glass to erect opulent monuments to their economic success.
—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
The comments of his teammates sounded highfalutin compared to Perry’s own assessment of his hot start with the Kings, one that was delayed by preseason knee surgery.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
31 Oct. 2025
Early on, Feld became Chicago’s most divisive restaurant, a flash point for critics of highfalutin many-course tasting menus.
—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for highfalutin
Adjective
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But Trump so far, it’s mostly been rhetorical.
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Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
Adjective
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West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
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Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
Adjective
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Swift will either ignore the noise as usual, or smile at the absurdity as a secure, proud childless cat lady.
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Looking back, Fox is proud to be part of such a perennial classic.
Adjective
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The 101 recipes are chef-smart without being pretentious or complicated.
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But there’s much to like here — from the two leads, the numerous Bay Area shots (the Golden Gate Bridge should get a supporting actor credit), Nick Offerman as a pretentious, cruel chef and Lukas Gage as a clueless cretin love interest/coworker.
Adjective
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The ornate dress hit just above the ankle, revealing a pair of metallic gold pumps with a lustrous finish.
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Opened in 1901, the ornate behemoth in Center City, built in the style of the Second Empire, remains a showstopper today.
Adjective
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Later, in a conference room, Pathak and Gupta explained that their seemingly cavalier attitude toward robot welfare was actually motivated by concern for human safety.
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The Nuggets were particularly cavalier with second-rounders in the 2024 offseason, which turned out to be Booth’s last at the helm.
Adjective
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Moreover, the average person seeing a super PAC ad will not know what was in those filings, but will simply see the high-minded sounding name of the PAC.
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These are not the times for high-minded prestige series that require active viewing to appreciate every nuance, nor for thrillers and comedies exciting enough to quicken the pulse.
Adjective
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Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.
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Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.
Cite this Entry
“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/highfalutin. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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