as in vanity
formal + literary
an excessive or foolish amount of belief in oneself or one's own abilities
His failure was brought on by his hubris.
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Recent Examples of hubris
However, hubris began to set in, not least in the form of the four solo albums the band released simultaneously in September of 1978.
—
Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
While an obvious take on the classic hubris narrative — the subtitle kinda gives the game away — Frankenstein also explores the nature of scientific ethics.
—Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Trump’s staff – surfing a wave of hubris from the past weekend – risk being a little at sea with Ukraine.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Maybe the Reds could dangle one of their pitchers in a trade, but getting strong starters to come to Cincinnati on their own volition is difficult enough that the idea that the Reds have too much starting pitching would be the height of hubris.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hubris
Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
While an obvious take on the classic hubris narrative — the subtitle kinda gives the game away — Frankenstein also explores the nature of scientific ethics.
—Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Trump’s staff – surfing a wave of hubris from the past weekend – risk being a little at sea with Ukraine.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Maybe the Reds could dangle one of their pitchers in a trade, but getting strong starters to come to Cincinnati on their own volition is difficult enough that the idea that the Reds have too much starting pitching would be the height of hubris.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hubris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hubris
Noun
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Posing on top of an antique vanity and inside a wooden cabinet, Bieber cycled through a parade of sheer lace, see-through mesh, and strappy designs in shades of red, black, pink, and cream.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
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Store liquids—such as lotion, makeup, perfumes, and skincare—on a tray to protect your vanity table or bathroom cabinet.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach take turns transforming into floating marketplaces — docks converted to catwalks, hulls polished to reflective arrogance, sales reps who can quote fuel burn like yacht owners care about costs.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
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College football is awash in problems, including the Big Ten’s unrivaled arrogance, and its never-ending list of demands that would make Notre Dame blush.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His on-field poise and ego-free personality are a combination that will be an easy sell to an NFL locker room.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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The ego, the hardness, the … callousness of anything that might be on the heart or the mind had literally just melted away.—
Kelsie Hoffman,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But, most of all, there was pride — the good kind of pride.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
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The Hoosiers are the bad guys, the bullies come to take your pride and your lunch money, albeit politely.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hubris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hubris. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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