presumptuous 1 of 2

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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presumptuousness

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noun

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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 presumptuous
Adjective
Maybe some person will be presumptuous enough to wonder aloud what might have influenced the plot of this book. Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025 Any suggestion that the Eagles offense is just as formidable without Hurts is either hopeful or presumptuous. Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 Many felt that the mother-in-law was indeed being presumptuous. Karen Fratti, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025 Maybe some person will be presumptuous enough to wonder aloud what might have influenced the plot of this book. Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for presumptuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presumptuous
Adjective
  • The visitors who receive cold stares are usually those who flout local practices – such as speaking loudly in a country that values peace and quiet or wearing inappropriate or immodest clothing in a more traditional setting. Make a personal connection.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 8 July 2025
  • After Mahmoud, however, all of these parents now have a right to advance notice. Schools that fail to predict that a lesson about a Jewish woman with a career, a Hindu husband, or an immodest wardrobe will offend a parent’s religious belief will now face very serious financial consequences.
    Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Adjective
  • In addition to Sandler, the 2025 film also sees the return of several familiar faces, including Julie Bowen as Happy’s love interest, Virginia Venit; Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, Happy’s arrogant nemesis; and Ben Stiller as Hal L., the orderly from Happy’s grandmother’s nursing home.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Christopher McDonald plays Happy’s comically villainous, arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, maestro of the finger guns.
    Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • But instead of meddlesome mamas making matches, the dating game now more closely resembles the stock market, with daters’ valuations charting up and down.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 15 June 2025
  • The special ops unit chases every lead possible, from bribes to Mexican drug cartels, a meddlesome L.A. District Attorney (Merrick McCartha) and corruption in the government of Belarus.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • The sweeping track was inspired in part by Rebecca Solnit’s 2014 collection Men Explain Things to Me, with the titular essay providing a scathing look at male arrogance and how conversations between men and women go awry.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
  • But nothing in his tenure captures all at once the sense of arrogance, tone-deafness to the concerns of Floridians and obsession with keeping secrets.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • People were essentially imprisoned in their homes, yet Newsom had the gall to dine mask-free at French Laundry with lobbyists.
    Houman Hemmati, Oc Register, 20 July 2025
  • And for all this some institutions have the gall to charge undergraduates upwards of $100,000 a year!
    Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • There’s still another week to catch this bold, new group exhibition of 50 artists’ works created to fill gaps in history, reframe present-day narratives, and imagine alternative futures.
    Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 24 July 2025
  • The film, a bold, tender Mexican road movie, will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival‘s Horizons section.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • 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, EW.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something officious about Alden Ehrenreich.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Her charming luxury treasure trove has none of that officious chilliness that defines the typical store of its ilk but instead feels like a brocanterie crammed with interesting, unexpected luxury goods from across the world.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Presumptuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presumptuous. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

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