1
2
3
4
as in triumphant
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph in his acceptance letter he assured his soon-to-be boss that he was proud to be joining such a fine company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Try This Instead

For
Try This
a proud nation
a noble nation
a boastful nation
a mighty nation
a glorious nation
a magnificent nation
a proud owner
a pleased owner
an enthusiastic owner
an elated owner
a satisfied owner
a delighted owner
a proud moment
a glorious moment
a special moment
an awesome moment
a happy moment
an amazing moment

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective proud differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of proud are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, insolent, lordly, overbearing, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When could arrogant be used to replace proud?

The meanings of arrogant and proud largely overlap; however, arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

Where would disdainful be a reasonable alternative to proud?

The words disdainful and proud are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When would haughty be a good substitute for proud?

While the synonyms haughty and proud are close in meaning, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

When might insolent be a better fit than proud?

In some situations, the words insolent and proud are roughly equivalent. However, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When can lordly be used instead of proud?

Although the words lordly and proud have much in common, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

In what contexts can overbearing take the place of proud?

The synonyms overbearing and proud are sometimes interchangeable, but overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

When is it sensible to use supercilious instead of proud?

The words supercilious and proud can be used in similar contexts, but supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

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 proud That one small step was just the beginning, paving the way for a succession of shorts and feature-length films that have been proud to wear their sci-fi credentials on their Space Ranger sleeves. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 20 June 2025 But while Boyle is proud of his influence on the zombie film landscape, he’s mostly abstained from watching any of those movies himself. Jake Kleinman, Wired News, 20 June 2025 Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2025 In one snap, the proud mom can be seen sitting in a pair of pajamas with her hair halfway clipped up as Santi sits on her lap, smiling at the camera. Angel Saunders, People.com, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for proud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proud
Adjective
  • The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
  • In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • The smug and sanctimonious tenor of their briefing makes that plain.
    Christie D’Zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
  • In a comedic twist, the Labrador retriever was filmed turning back to his owner during the drive, with a smug look on his face as if to boast about his comfortable spot.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • And while in Reims, be sure to visit the magnificent Cathédrale de Reims.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Guest stars like Bob Odenkirk, Andy Samberg, Sam Richardson, and Patti Harrison bring magnificent energy to their segments, but the show's success primarily hinges on Robinson's unique sensibilities as a performer.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • On his triumphant 10-day journey on the canal from Buffalo to New York City, when the Seneca Chief reached New York Harbor, Clinton poured a keg of water from Lake Erie into the Atlantic Ocean, symbolizing a union of two major bodies of water.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
  • Lewis Capaldi has made a triumphant return to music, two years after an emotional moment at Glastonbury led to the singer taking a break from his career.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.
    Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2017
  • Wise minds inside the Trump administration will hopefully choose to drop a suit first introduced during by a Biden administration reflexively disdainful of big.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • His most important influence, though, remained lithography—its limestone and grease pencil—and the engraver’s chisel.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
  • Food production is by far the most important cause of biodiversity loss.
    Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Find a theater near you and soak in that glorious AC while catching a flick or two to beat the heat.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025
  • There's nothing quite like basking in the sun on a glorious, care-free vacation day.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sami Gibson, the mother who initiated the change at Curtis Elementary, was ecstatic about the playground during its opening in 2018.
    Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2025
  • Most players would be ecstatic with that statline after four quarters.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proud. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on proud

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!