1
as in domineering
fond of ordering people around
an imperious little boy who liked to tell the other scouts what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
as war casualties mounted, the need for trained nurses became imperious
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imperious
But satisfaction isn’t in the cards for this general’s daughter, famed for her beauty and imperious style.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Ever since Tonali offered an honest appraisal of his own long-term future on Tyneside in early November, there have been scant few occasions in which the Italian has delivered his imperious best.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Sun Ra was simultaneously impish and imperious, bossing us with wiggles of his hands.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
An imperious figure with a tendency to grandstand, Yermak feuded with a succession of Western diplomats and just about everyone in Zelensky’s entourage.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperious
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Ever since Tonali offered an honest appraisal of his own long-term future on Tyneside in early November, there have been scant few occasions in which the Italian has delivered his imperious best.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Sun Ra was simultaneously impish and imperious, bossing us with wiggles of his hands.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
An imperious figure with a tendency to grandstand, Yermak feuded with a succession of Western diplomats and just about everyone in Zelensky’s entourage.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperious
Adjective
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Through it all, however, West struggled with depression and a sense of self-loathing, and had trouble with intimacy, much of it a by-product of a hardscrabble childhood in West Virginia with a domineering father.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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In the new version, the dramatic tension comes from the singer’s relationship with his domineering father, Joe Jackson, who doesn’t want his son’s solo career to come at the expense of the Jackson 5, the Motown group that put the family on the map.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Notoriously arrogant comedy legend Kent Romero might first bring to mind Chevy Chase for readers, perhaps even 1980s stars like Judge Reinhold, but with his Venezuelan-American background, he was also inspired by real-life groundbreakers like Freddie Prinze.—
Lee Kelly,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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As the sun and Jupiter clash, you’re cosmically protected, but arrogant behavior won’t get a pass.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch denounced a sustained crackdown on dissent under Talon, citing arbitrary detentions, tighter restrictions on public demonstrations and mounting pressure on independent media outlets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled that Georgia’s death penalty as then applied was arbitrary and discriminatory, forcing all states to rewrite their laws and beef up their systems to provide for death row defense lawyers.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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One answer would be that the more savage the storm, the more urgent the need for safe havens.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Simandl was then rushed to Tampa General Hospital for urgent treatment and was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) — a rare and aggressive form of leukemia where immature white blood cells multiply uncontrollably, preventing the body from producing healthy blood cells.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Founded by George Soros after the fall of communism, the university says the authoritarian government of Viktor Orbán forced 90% of its teaching operations out of the country in 2019, leaving behind a stark symbol of how far the nation has moved during the prime minister’s 16-year regime.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Reminiscent of authoritarian regimes, experts say What's branding in business is problematic in governance.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
More than this many people face acute hunger, according to the World Food Program.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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In Baltimore, where economic disparities are more acute, the consequences are magnified.—
Brian Walter,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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First established in 1878, Brain is widely considered the most influential publication in the field, with its monthly editorials being a key source of authoritative perspectives.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Apr. 2026
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Smith makes sure that Noah is authoritative, commanding attention with a soft heart.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even with a fragile ceasefire in place with Iran, Trump’s support for Orbán may not work out for the autocratic Hungarian leader, who faces a tough election this weekend.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
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This means that filmmakers out of favor with autocratic regimes—including, in Iran, some of the nation’s greatest artists—don’t stand a chance, and some of the most notable recent Iranian films have been submitted by other countries.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imperious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperious. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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