as in arrogant
informal
having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people
a bunch of hoity-toity snobs
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Dissimilar Words
as in tomfoolery
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hoity-toity
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 16 June 2025
Ditch your hoity-toity cocktail reception to get down with some hometown talent and hang with a hip-hop heavyweight.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Dec. 2024
Zazu, Scar’s winged associate, is played with hoity-toity dry wit by Nick LaMedica.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024
And just in case equestrian events aren’t hoity-toity enough, the 2024 dressage and jumping will unfold at the Palace of Versailles.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 24 May 2024
From the hoity-toity BAFTAs to the jovial People’s Choice Awards, the events this past week were pretty varied.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2024
And about having specific opinions about art not being some elitist hoity-toity thing.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023
When the Harmonists get their big break at a hoity-toity Berlin establishment, the cast does well sending up overserious waiters, holding platters in front of their crotches for a flurry of phallic jokes.
—Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023
At the same time, though, the property is anything but hoity-toity.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023
Adjective
Art Detectives Here’s a fun twist on a familiar formula: Stephen Moyer and Nina Singh star as a pair of cops investigating crimes in the U.K.’s hoity-toity art world.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 16 June 2025
Ditch your hoity-toity cocktail reception to get down with some hometown talent and hang with a hip-hop heavyweight.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Dec. 2024
Zazu, Scar’s winged associate, is played with hoity-toity dry wit by Nick LaMedica.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024
And just in case equestrian events aren’t hoity-toity enough, the 2024 dressage and jumping will unfold at the Palace of Versailles.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 24 May 2024
From the hoity-toity BAFTAs to the jovial People’s Choice Awards, the events this past week were pretty varied.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2024
And about having specific opinions about art not being some elitist hoity-toity thing.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023
When the Harmonists get their big break at a hoity-toity Berlin establishment, the cast does well sending up overserious waiters, holding platters in front of their crotches for a flurry of phallic jokes.
—Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023
At the same time, though, the property is anything but hoity-toity.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoity-toity
Adjective
-
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
Noun
-
That indicates either a profound lack of creativity or intense postproduction tomfoolery.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 May 2025
-
Judge Judy, has served up swift justice with a sharp tongue and zero patience for tomfoolery.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
21 July 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
-
His background is in sports science, so body mechanics are important to him.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Fungi also play an important role in breaking down dead wood and leaves in forest ecosystems.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
During the eulogy, Neil boldly vowed that his son’s death wouldn’t be in vain.—
Maggie Menderski,
The Courier-Journal,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Once again, Arteta’s side were camped outside an opposition penalty area, trying in vain to break them down.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park has some monkey business going on: updates to its primate and other animal habitats, educational buildings and pathways.—
Lillian Ashworth,
Oc Register,
18 July 2025
-
Do a direct export from the original system—no monkey business.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Beatrice is also the proud new patron of Borne, a medical research charity endeavoring to end premature birth.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than directly discounting the TV by £200, Samsung is likely hoping that some people will be put off by the rigmarole of going through the claims process.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
The bust was followed by months of prolonged legal rigmarole.—
John Semley,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hoity-toity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoity-toity. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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