1
as in immodest
showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty
it's a little presumptuous of you to assume that I'm your new best friend just because I invited you along
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
the presumptuous doctor didn't even bother to explain to me the treatment that I would be receiving
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meddlesome
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
the presumptuous salesclerk started picking out some very expensive accessories for the outfit I had just chosen
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of presumptuous
The mother took him in, pitying his orphan status and appreciating his straightforward manners, neither servile nor presumptuous, but respectful and unembarrassed and warm.
—
Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
The request felt presumptuous, especially given the logistics involved.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
On its face, this behavior is perplexing, presumptuous even.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2025
Thanks in advance' This phrase can seem presumptuous, undermining the other person's ability to say no.
—Melody Wilding, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presumptuous
Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
The request felt presumptuous, especially given the logistics involved.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
On its face, this behavior is perplexing, presumptuous even.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2025
Thanks in advance' This phrase can seem presumptuous, undermining the other person's ability to say no.
—Melody Wilding, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presumptuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presumptuous
Adjective
-
They are sometimes fully clothed, sometimes less so—bare-breasted and bare-bottomed, coquettishly posed, festooned with kitschy props—unabashedly immodest in every sense of the word.—
Bryan Barcena,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The immodest middle section celebrates their grandson, Charles V, who commissioned this facade and decorated it with the complex coat of arms of the mighty Habsburg Empire.—
Rick Steves,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The tension between the two boils over into a confrontation which only Eisenhower can adjudicate, a task complicated by his own arrogant British subordinate, a wiry and dislikable General Bernard Montgomery - played with a villainous verve bordering on the pantomime by Damian Lewis.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
29 May 2026
-
Public policy decisions always need to strive for middle ground, and those leadership decisions often referred to as arrogant can just as easily be called principled leadership.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
God, would no one rid me of this meddlesome radiologist?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The unit's playing time in those games had been limited by a combination of blowouts (wins and losses), minute restrictions (Aaron Gordon) and meddlesome minor injuries (Jamal Murray's ankle and shoulder).—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The right half of the image is an architectonic jumble of patterns and bold lines, hard to parse but visually compelling.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Set the scene Sexy without being pretentious and bold without the brashness, Il Sereno is a lesson in artful restraint.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The usually pompous Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9th had to be pared down for fear of Ukrainian drones.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lee will play Maya, the officious Chief of Staff for the Governor of Oklahoma.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
-
Her Southern accent is slightly clipped and officious, the type of drawl that’s a stamp of a suburban upbringing.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sampa, curated a Filipino-forward culinary experience for guests.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
30 May 2026
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This citrus forward drink has been around for over a hundred years and is now back in the spotlight thanks to Taylor Swift.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Service is polished but not pretentious.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Well-healed but not pretentious.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presumptuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presumptuous. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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