high-handedness

noun

as in arrogance

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar 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 high-handedness Pay the bills As reported by the Sentinel’s Ryan Gillespie, the high-handedness came to a head last week. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-handedness
  1. arrogance
  2. imperiousness
  3. bossiness
  4. superciliousness
  5. haughtiness
  6. disdain
  7. dominance
  8. hauteur
Noun
  • Aemond, too, for that matter, while Daemon’s arrogance continues to get Team Black into all sorts of predicaments.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But the league’s own research found that what reads as charisma in Dallas can land as arrogance in Düsseldorf.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • The hysteria often comes with a fat dollop of Trumpian imperiousness, not requesting your engagement so much as demanding it.
    — Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • Love this imperiousness aimed at doctors from a hospital bed.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2025
Definition of imperiousness
Noun
  • The endless bossiness of government in California is a big problem.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of bossiness
Noun
  • However, in the wrong hands, being silent can signal disdain and superciliousness.
    — Matteo Atti, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of superciliousness
Noun
  • Sarah and Billo were plain-sailing people who didn’t pursue beauty or seek out texture, whereas Fanny was an exquisite snob without the circumstances to support such haughtiness.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Pearl revels in wickedness, presenting a literary world in which a successful writer’s haughtiness is both encouraged and rewarded.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
Definition of haughtiness
Noun
  • But her comments and obvious disdain for me are not good for my self-esteem.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • In the interview last week, Knight continued to make no effort to hide his disdain for Davis.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of disdain
Noun
  • For Arsenal, the game is an opportunity to underline that last season’s success was the beginning of a new period of dominance rather than a one-off achievement.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But such a move is unlikely to succeed, given the dominance of Biya’s ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominance
Noun
  • Anna, her hauteur hardening like a protective shell, is aghast.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • His hauteur could be endearing or off-putting.
    — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
Definition of hauteur

Browse Nearby Words

high-handed
high-handedness
high-hat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-handedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-handedness. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All