1
as in aristocratic
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior
at the wedding reception the bride's high-hat relatives did their considerable best to ignore us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
several high-hat society types arrived after we did, but they got seated first
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to disdain
to show contempt for
one presidential candidate presents himself as an outsider who has long been high-hatted by the Beltway elite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
was high-hatted by an old college friend who's now a power player on Wall Street
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in hard hat
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of high hat
Adam Shell, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Going high hat just did not fit, and on Sept. 9, 1927, the Bernheimer flags came down.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2022
Deja stifled a yawn and cranked up her music; the warring bass and high hat thrummed in her chest and kept her mostly awake.
—Brittany N. Williams, NOLA.com, 26 Oct. 2020
The song -- a frenetic trap banger built from buzzy synths and high hat -- debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 on March 2, 2013, the same week Billboard started factoring YouTube streaming data into the chart's methodology.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2019
Here comes one now, rattling catastrophically, like Max Roach whaling on the high hat.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2019
Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025
For the opening scene, in which a couple makes out in a car, singer Stuart A. Staples croons the title track, with some café jazz accompaniment: Bass, piano, and lightly tapped high-hat.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
The bass, high-hat, guitar, and vocals all remain distinct in this busy mix and benefit from strong detail when the track fully kicks in.
—PCMAG, 10 July 2024
As the drummer counted in on his high-hat my mind went blank: not just on how to play the song, but how to play guitar, how to stay standing, how to blink, breathe, and stay conscious.
—Chris Fleming, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2023
Adjective
Instead of high hats, use wall washers, which bounce light off the walls and space.
—Adam Shell, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Going high hat just did not fit, and on Sept. 9, 1927, the Bernheimer flags came down.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2022
Deja stifled a yawn and cranked up her music; the warring bass and high hat thrummed in her chest and kept her mostly awake.
—Brittany N. Williams, NOLA.com, 26 Oct. 2020
The song -- a frenetic trap banger built from buzzy synths and high hat -- debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 on March 2, 2013, the same week Billboard started factoring YouTube streaming data into the chart's methodology.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2019
Here comes one now, rattling catastrophically, like Max Roach whaling on the high hat.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2019
Verb
Over the last few years, a bevy of high-hat hotels have begun competing for the Big Apple’s best guests.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025
For the opening scene, in which a couple makes out in a car, singer Stuart A. Staples croons the title track, with some café jazz accompaniment: Bass, piano, and lightly tapped high-hat.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
The bass, high-hat, guitar, and vocals all remain distinct in this busy mix and benefit from strong detail when the track fully kicks in.
—PCMAG, 10 July 2024
As the drummer counted in on his high-hat my mind went blank: not just on how to play the song, but how to play guitar, how to stay standing, how to blink, breathe, and stay conscious.
—Chris Fleming, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high hat
Adjective
-
While its aristocratic history may be a thing of the past, the hotel (along with its grounds) does still exude the stately, elegant aura of a noble mansion.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Between July 20 and August 6, peasants across France mobilized at a stunning speed following untrue rumors of an aristocratic plot to intentionally starve out much of the population.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
But this act of arrogant bullying should also re-kindle the spirit of hope and unity that swept through this community in the aftermath of that horrible night in 2016, that still binds Orlando in its 150th anniversary year.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Kleinfeld disdains the concept of work-life separation.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Even Netflix’s content factory is now licensing the very YouTube creators whom audiences once disdained as amateurs.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
Garcia’s escalating threats of self-harm Inside prison, Garcia had started to feel neglected and isolated from his family, according to one of his cellmates.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Expanding military operations in Gaza would put the lives of countless Palestinians and the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza at risk while further isolating Israel internationally.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The rest of the parts are the same, so that’s a big upcharge for a superior GPU and double the storage—though the RTX 5080 does offer a noticeable gaming-performance boost.—
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Daskalakis was disturbed by Kennedy’s comments that chickens that survive H5N1 bird flu are genetically superior and that the stronger children who get measles will survive.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Angry Wave Sumrall suggested that Northwestern disrespected New Orleans when the Wildcats declined the Green Wave’s request to wear all-white uniforms without logos, like the 2005 Tulane team did in its first game after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.—
Brett Martel,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Never been thrown out of the game, would never disrespect an umpire.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Symptoms progress to stiff neck and seizures, as well as cognitive symptoms, like confusion and hallucinations.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
There was frost on the inside of the windows, clothes stiff on the floor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The patrons are in dresses, suits and fancy top hats.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Aug. 2025
-
James DiPaola, the High Sheriff of Middlesex, who also got to don that top hat every spring, loved his badge, often wore it with the top hat.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“High hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high%20hat. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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