1
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
prideful intellectuals long considered rock music unworthy of serious study
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
at the wedding the prideful snobs ignored their poor relations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in triumphant
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph
flashed a prideful smile as she received her college diploma
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prideful
There was no backlash to Ceferin’s words, no prideful defensiveness.
—
James Horncastle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Our elderly are hurting & too prideful to say anything.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
He was too hurt to go, and probably too prideful.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
For the Connecticut Sun and its fans, the past is prideful, the future is murky.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prideful
James Horncastle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Our elderly are hurting & too prideful to say anything.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
He was too hurt to go, and probably too prideful.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
For the Connecticut Sun and its fans, the past is prideful, the future is murky.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prideful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prideful
Adjective
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South Florida sports history is proud to have been the host for Crump’s barrier-busting history.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The Big Ten is marching into the heart of Southern football with a proud swagger, daring any conference to challenge its claim as the power to beat in the College Football Playoff.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
As a sleazy, lecherous publicist pinned in a Manhattan phone booth by a faceless sniper on the other end of the line, Farrell goes from smug condescension to breathless victimhood pretty effortlessly.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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But Minnesota, with or without its unapologetically smug superstar, has been the Nuggets’ kryptonite for more than a year.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the latest episode of the Fortune Crypto Playbook podcast—available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube—finance editor Jeff John Roberts and senior reporter Leo Schwartz discuss what this year will mean for the industry after its triumphant 2025.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
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The Olympic medalist made a triumphant return to the mat for her senior year at UCLA — and opened the NCAA gymnastics season with a near-perfect performance seemingly inspired by her time on Dancing with the Stars.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This version of Ryan was arrogant, unable to conceal pride in his accomplishment.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But Grande’s conceited blonde bubblehead gains in stature here as Glinda assumes statesmanlike responsibility to spread goodness in Oz, while experiencing crushing romantic disappointment that humbles her and deflates her vanity.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Nov. 2025
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The kooky characters surrounding Judge Stone included the conceited prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), the imposing bailiff Bull Shannon (Richard Moll), and the idealistic public defender Christine Sullivan (Markie Post), each of whom had various quirks of their own.—
Dan Heching,
EW.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The team security guard who ran down the back hallway, ecstatic.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
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Two and three months ago, Wall Street was captivated by another stellar earnings season, a Federal Reserve resuming rate cuts into a steady economy and constant ecstatic new projections for AI spending.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Wiig says, referring to the classic TV sitcom of the 1960s and ‘70s that starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha, a witch who marries a mortal man, Darrin, much to her haughty mother, Endora’s, chagrin.—
Rosemary Rossi,
Variety,
18 Dec. 2025
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Indeed, these tales characterize Jesus as a rather haughty boy, conscious of his divinity and not happy with those who treat him as a mere child.—
Mary Dzon,
The Conversation,
12 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Your granddaughters will love in vain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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Yet the efforts so far have been in vain.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prideful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prideful. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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