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
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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
Admittedly, that’s attributable less to Kahn himself — who remains as prideful and abrasive as ever, only now with a noticeably different voice — than the narrative function his character serves.
—
Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Wentworth needed to find some humility to temper his natural prideful streak.
—Brandon Taylor, Time, 17 July 2025
But, after ten days of barrages by the American and Israeli militaries, the more telling banners made plaintive and prideful statements.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
The ability to recite an obscure Lloyd Banks verse earned you some prideful grins or, even better, earnest assistance with your performance.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prideful
Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Wentworth needed to find some humility to temper his natural prideful streak.
—Brandon Taylor, Time, 17 July 2025
But, after ten days of barrages by the American and Israeli militaries, the more telling banners made plaintive and prideful statements.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
The ability to recite an obscure Lloyd Banks verse earned you some prideful grins or, even better, earnest assistance with your performance.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prideful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prideful
Adjective
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Like Meghan, Mookie is also a proud parent of two.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Creating a brand that uplifts underrepresented communities is my proudest accomplishment.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
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
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Xi emerged triumphant, strengthening his hand ahead of what could be the most consequential diplomatic showdown of 2025.—
Neil Thomas,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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This achievement followed his dominant showing in major tournaments, including a triumphant US Open victory in 2024 and strong performances throughout the current season.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The pilot opens with Powell’s character, arrogant college quarterback Russ Holliday, leading his Oregon Ducks team in the National Championship game against Georgia at the Rose Bowl.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
17 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But the Dionysian impulse — the wild, ecstatic, creative urge — is the source of all vitality.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Oct. 2025
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Winged Beavers coach Jon Wholley was ecstatic.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In the small Campo dei Tolentini, presided over by the haughty neoclassical columns of the eponymous church, a queue straggles from a tiny bar.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Lellouche stars as unlikely hero Zem, a disillusioned Zone 3 cop with an idealistic militant past, who is teamed with haughty, high-flying Zone 2 officer Salia, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, after a leading politician is assassinated in Zone 1.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yet the efforts so far have been in vain.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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The first-half goal from Danish forward Mikael Uhre was enough to take the Union to a 20th win of the campaign and an insurmountable 66 points, meaning Inter Miami’s 4-1 win over the New England Revolution was in vain.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prideful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prideful. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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