1
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
restaurant reviews that are written with a pomposity that will leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
his over-the-top trophy mansion should give you some idea of his pomposity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pomposity
Right now, his focus is on doing eight shows a week, while injecting a Big Easy swing to the Major General’s pomposity.
—
Brent Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
His boisterous persona was more comical than confrontational, a hot-air balloon of strutting pomposity punctured by his family.
—Jim McKairnes, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
Lacking the pop cultural connection of Vox Lux, The Brutalist’s pomposity becomes unrelatable, if not repugnant.
—Armond White, National Review, 3 Jan. 2025
The play skewers the social mores and pomposity of Victorian England’s upper crust.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pomposity
Brent Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
His boisterous persona was more comical than confrontational, a hot-air balloon of strutting pomposity punctured by his family.
—Jim McKairnes, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
Lacking the pop cultural connection of Vox Lux, The Brutalist’s pomposity becomes unrelatable, if not repugnant.
—Armond White, National Review, 3 Jan. 2025
The play skewers the social mores and pomposity of Victorian England’s upper crust.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pomposity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pomposity
Noun
-
Too few compliments make kids feel slighted, while too many can inspire arrogance.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Open the door to the Chamber, and you're faced with a sink, a vanity, two wardrobes, and two frosted-glass doors, behind which are a shower and a toilet.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
-
But gone are the days when an effective routine also meant a cluttered bathroom vanity full of products—instead of needing multiple serums, sunscreens, and moisturizers to target different results, the latest products combine SPF and anti-aging effects all in one.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But there is little doubt, officials and experts say, that spying efforts are intensifying as the world’s two dominant superpowers, the United States and China, battle for superiority across economic, technological, military and ideological fronts.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
-
By now, everyone in the SEC realizes football superiority isn’t a birthright.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The true implications of the blast marks on Russia's rocketry ego remained vague.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
In a way, their books are about male ego.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There's so much pride in Target and there's so much excitement to get this company back to growth.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Burke oozes with pride when sharing stories about the historical restaurant, which sits in the heart of Mount Lookout Square.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The smugness is thicker than split pea.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Where Spider masked his incompetence with bravado and abrasiveness, Claude put up a thin layer of smugness that collapsed when faced with even a tiny amount of resistance.—
Brian Grubb,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pomposity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pomposity. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
