1
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
an imperious little boy who liked to tell the other scouts what to do
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
an imperious movie star who thinks she's some sort of goddess
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3
as in arbitrary
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
an office administrator with an imperious manner that really grates on people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
as war casualties mounted, the need for trained nurses became imperious
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imperious
Johnson, an ultra-ambitious Texas Democrat but a junior House member of the House Naval Affairs Committee (which became the House Armed Services Committee after World War II), correctly surmised the panel’s imperious chairman, Georgia Democrat Carl Vinson, wasn’t going anywhere.
—
David Mark, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
As the protagonist/antihero, audiences meet everyone through his eyes (and imperious narration) — and in his view, most people are shallow and irritating, especially the residents of Madre Linda.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025
Also amusing is Fiona Glascott as Lady Violet, an old acquaintance of Sherlock’s who specializes officially in schooling young ladies like Clara to join British high society and unofficially in casting her imperious judgment everywhere.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
As Kimberly Shaw, a mild-mannered resident doctor of Wilshire Memorial Hospital, Cross shared plenty of scenes with Wagner, who shows up in the third season as Peter Burns, the hospital's imperious chief of staff.
—EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperious
David Mark, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
As the protagonist/antihero, audiences meet everyone through his eyes (and imperious narration) — and in his view, most people are shallow and irritating, especially the residents of Madre Linda.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025
Also amusing is Fiona Glascott as Lady Violet, an old acquaintance of Sherlock’s who specializes officially in schooling young ladies like Clara to join British high society and unofficially in casting her imperious judgment everywhere.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
As Kimberly Shaw, a mild-mannered resident doctor of Wilshire Memorial Hospital, Cross shared plenty of scenes with Wagner, who shows up in the third season as Peter Burns, the hospital's imperious chief of staff.
—EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperious
Adjective
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Democracy organizations worldwide document how authoritarian regimes and opportunistic politicians weaponize AI to consolidate power.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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But he is despised by Thailand’s powerful elites, who saw his rule as corrupt, authoritarian and socially destabilizing.—
Lionel Lim,
Fortune,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
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In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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This anecdote is a perfect snapshot of Jameela’s lifelong refusal to accept arbitrary rules.—
Mandeep Rai,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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Choosing a side for the wall would have been arbitrary.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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Too Much Going On Limits Executive Team Performance Today’s executive teams are pulled in more directions than ever—global priorities, cross-functional initiatives, urgent issues, never-ending decks.—
Elizabeth Freedman,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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In response, researchers and experts are sounding the alarm—calling for urgent, comprehensive solutions to reverse these trends and support youth wellbeing.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Despite his character's domineering presence, Morse told ScreenRant there's more than meets the eye.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
18 June 2025
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It was then put to Tuchel that the show’s host Adrian Durham has friends who think England would be better off without Bellingham in the team, referring to that domineering personality.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the company’s acute myeloid leukemia drug CER-1236 an orphan drug designation .—
Brian Evans,
CNBC,
18 June 2025
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With internal travel banned and markets shuttered, food shortages became acute.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Another authoritative industry figure who presented at Gem Genève was Rui Galopim de Carvalho, FGA, DGA, author of Gempedia: A Comprehensive Glossary For Gemstones and Gemmology.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Others believe Wilcox to be among the most impressive operators at his level, appreciating his unassuming but authoritative manner.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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This was the fantasy in 1953, when the CIA and the British intelligence overthrew Mohammad Mossadegh, Iran’s prime minister who had nationalized the country’s oil, and delivered Iran to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s autocratic rule.—
Narges Bajoghli,
Time,
19 June 2025
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Allowing China and Russia entry would strengthen other autocratic regimes, reducing the deterrent influence of democratic alliances.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperious. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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