pompousness

noun

Definition of pompousnessnext
1
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims offended by the pompousness of the minor official

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements the pompousness of the self-made billionaire was evident in the gaudy mansion he built for himself

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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 pompousness Any claim for Swift’s genius should reckon with her lapses into imprecision and pompousness. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pompousness
  1. arrogance
  2. vanity
  3. superiority
  4. ego
  5. pride
  6. smugness
Noun
  • But the Workers’ Party (PT) leader, who was accused of arrogance and of failing to understand the needs of young gig-economy workers, shook up his strategy, said Igor Gielow in Folha de São Paulo.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 31 Oct. 2026
  • McVay and Snead have effectively built a culture of arrogance.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • The interest in treating hair loss extends beyond bathroom vanity.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Soll got permission to retile a bathroom and install a new vanity.
    — Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of vanity
Noun
  • Looking like two giant rhinos splashing in water and wrestling for superiority, 7-foot-5 Cherif Millogo is getting pushed by 7-foot Yann Kamagate near the basket as each battles to establish position in the low post area during a practice drill.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The capacity issues at O’Hare, which now ranks as the world’s busiest airfield, have become acute as American and United are sparring for superiority there.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of superiority
Noun
  • Getting a 4×4 unstuck can be dirty, ego-bruising work that can also leave said 4×4 worse for wear.
    — Stephen Edelstein, The Drive, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The extent of his self-delusion and fragility of ego is beyond the pale.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of ego
Noun
  • The tension of his earlier work is there in abundance, especially when Irwin decides, in a misguided fit of pride, to take his sons to his new workplace in Carroll Gardens late one night.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2026
  • This story, and that guest, was a point of pride her whole life.
    — Claire Howorth, Vanity Fair, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of pride
Noun
  • To use satire to confirm does not bring with it dramatic excitement and risks a certain smugness of point of view.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The candidate, whose relishing of combative interviews and debates verges occasionally on smugness, was slated to potentially appear on 60 Minutes before the November election, people familiar with the planning said.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of smugness

Browse Nearby Words

pompously
pompousness
poncho
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Cite this Entry

“Pompousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pompousness. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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