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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of pompous
EW.com, 21 July 2025
As pompous actor Garry, Nehal Joshi aces the tough task of making his character’s halting, inarticulate speech sound authentic.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
And more than any other animal, cats represented to her its moral antithesis: lazy, pompous, interested only in themselves.
—Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
At 11:30, as the simultaneously pompous and obsequious gate agent announces the passengers above gold status, the bit, already tilting toward insanity, leaves any attempt to portray a real airport behind and dives fully into Alice in Wonderland–level surrealism.
—John Roy, Vulture, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pompous
Adjective
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
As pompous actor Garry, Nehal Joshi aces the tough task of making his character’s halting, inarticulate speech sound authentic.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
And more than any other animal, cats represented to her its moral antithesis: lazy, pompous, interested only in themselves.
—Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
At 11:30, as the simultaneously pompous and obsequious gate agent announces the passengers above gold status, the bit, already tilting toward insanity, leaves any attempt to portray a real airport behind and dives fully into Alice in Wonderland–level surrealism.
—John Roy, Vulture, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pompous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pompous
Adjective
-
But this act of arrogant bullying should also re-kindle the spirit of hope and unity that swept through this community in the aftermath of that horrible night in 2016, that still binds Orlando in its 150th anniversary year.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
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Harry Potter fans might recognize Stroma for playing the arrogant Hogwarts student named Cormac McLaggen in the film franchise.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps the frustration this time will be mitigated slightly as EV owners feel a bit smug about eliminating range anxiety.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
There really was a secret cabal of the rich and powerful who committed horrific crimes, smug in the knowledge that their money and power would protect them.—
Pat Beall,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Kirk Lazarus is a prestigious, pretentious actor who decides to go full method — to put it mildly — in portraying a Black soldier.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Though Dirty Dom’s in-ring debut began in 2020, the pretentious son of Rey Mysterio Jr. inherited his slick ways from iconic WWE superstar Eddie Guerrero.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And still, most new brands enter with a kind of hopeful arrogance, as if a good idea and some nice branding are enough to push past gravity.—
Joel Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
There’s a certain kind of arrogance that doesn’t yell or pound its chest.—
Stephanie Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Allocate your capital with clarity; don’t overspend on vanity or under-invest in traction.—
Swami Kakarla,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
That there is impotence and cancer and infidelity and vanity and loss.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This is a proud program with a history of success, but Southern Miss has fallen on hard times, with four losing records in the last five seasons.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
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Next time, put your phone away, watch, and be proud.—
Janine Clements,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There are signs in the rhetoric of both Trump and Putin of such grandiose imperial impulses.—
Ronald Suny,
The Conversation,
19 Aug. 2025
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That fight doesn’t require grandiose ideologies or MAGA slogans.—
Y. David Scharf,
New York Daily News,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Like so many peddling some version of righteous superiority.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Perhaps Robins should take a step back, let go of her sense of superiority, and try to understand that people are leaving the Democratic Party because they are actually informed.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pompous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pompous. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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