1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
the pompous waiter served us in the manner of a person doing some poor soul a great favor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a pompous piano teacher who thought that the music world was lucky to have her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pretentious
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
a pompous gambling casino decorated to look like a palace in ancient Rome
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pompous
After a challenging and awkward Thanksgiving dinner, during which Charlotte (Kristin Davis) tried to set her single friend up with the pompous gallerist Mark Kasabian (Victor Garber), Carrie returns home.
—
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Jamie Demetriou, best known for his memorable performances in Fleabag and Stath Lets Flats, has been cast as the pompous and self-important distant relative who intends to marry one of the Bennet girls.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 30 July 2025
Louis Partridge will take on Mr Darcy’s nemesis, Mr Wickham with Jamie Demetriou turning his hand to the pompous Mr Collins and Fiona Shaw as the fearsome Lady Catherine de Bourg.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2025
Warner also had a memorable guest arc as Eric Sanders, pompous boyfriend of Karyn Parsons' Hilary Banks, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
—EW.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pompous
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Jamie Demetriou, best known for his memorable performances in Fleabag and Stath Lets Flats, has been cast as the pompous and self-important distant relative who intends to marry one of the Bennet girls.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 30 July 2025
Louis Partridge will take on Mr Darcy’s nemesis, Mr Wickham with Jamie Demetriou turning his hand to the pompous Mr Collins and Fiona Shaw as the fearsome Lady Catherine de Bourg.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2025
Warner also had a memorable guest arc as Eric Sanders, pompous boyfriend of Karyn Parsons' Hilary Banks, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
—EW.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pompous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pompous
Adjective
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Some might see you as arrogant.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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Jackson returns as Wes Bryant, a handsome, intelligent, but arrogant man who had just moved to Seattle and was revealed to be a new medical intern at Grey Sloan.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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However, Ralph has a smug attitude when talking to Brad.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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Colum’s smug assurance that the wedding will happen soon is rocked when Ned shows up with news of the Grants’ suspicions about the raid.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Need to drop a levity bomb in the middle of a group of pretentious characters?—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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And though all of Anderson’s artistry and jittery comedic sensibility is present, the director hasn’t created a pretentious version of an action flick; One Battle After Another is the real thing, filled with beautifully shot car chases and shoot-outs.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Both of our co-founders, along with much of our leadership team, are proud Kentucky natives.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
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In photos from the show, the proud mom and aunt could be seen walking down the runway hand-in-hand with her two sons, while Zaya led the way in front of them.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Over the course of a conversation that spanned more than a million words and 300 hours, the bot encouraged Brooks to adopt grandiose beliefs, validated his delusions, and led him to believe the technological infrastructure that underpins the world was in imminent danger.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
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The train will then head to the charming, cliffside resort town of Ravello, where guests will enjoy a two-night stay in Belmond’s grandiose Caruso hotel.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The garb is ostentatious for sure and gives out cabana wear vibes, but there's no better time for a skeleton to take a tropical vacation getaway than Halloween, right?—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
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There aren’t many obvious or ostentatious signs of wealth, other than a few pristine trucks and SUVs in the courthouse parking lot, and a new community center in Mentone that cost millions and is barely used.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The first-half goal from Danish forward Mikael Uhre was enough to take the Union to a 20th win of the campaign and an insurmountable 66 points, meaning Inter Miami’s 4-1 win over the New England Revolution was in vain.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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The Dash, at any moment, may try in vain to dock again to change her fate.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Like Muscle Man, Mixtape follows a self-important, inarticulate mediocrity on the fringe of a minor American metropolis.—
Robert Rubsam,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
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Their music provided a suitably self-important soundtrack as Great Recession-era artisanal hipsterdom faded into the careerist hopefulness of the latter Obama years, when Everlane minimalism supplanted lumberjack plaid.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pompous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pompous. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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