as in arrogant
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Recent Examples of self-aggrandizing
Nevertheless, the self-aggrandizing and self-congratulations on display in the first three episodes available for review implies humility may be in short supply.
—
Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Obnoxious and self-aggrandizing?
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 May 2026
This is, truly, a totally shameless and self-aggrandizing effort on the part of Mayor Trantalis and Commissioner Glassman.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
The author characterizes Huntington Beach itself as an inherently self-aggrandizing, wealthy coastal enclave unrepresentative of broader California concerns, dismissing the notion that this affluent beach town should serve as a model for statewide governance or the state’s future direction.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
As well as lambasting Shell, this often self-aggrandizing filing out in the low-tech Santa Monica Courthouse has innocuous cameos by the likes of Ari Emanuel and Jay Penske, among others.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
This self-aggrandizing aria found a large audience, selling more than 100,000 copies in its first week and topping the charts on Amazon.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
This debut wasn’t a self-aggrandizing spectacle.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Oct. 2025
Not for the praise, not for self-aggrandizing satisfaction of a dish made perfectly.
—Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Obnoxious and self-aggrandizing?
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 May 2026
This is, truly, a totally shameless and self-aggrandizing effort on the part of Mayor Trantalis and Commissioner Glassman.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
The author characterizes Huntington Beach itself as an inherently self-aggrandizing, wealthy coastal enclave unrepresentative of broader California concerns, dismissing the notion that this affluent beach town should serve as a model for statewide governance or the state’s future direction.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
As well as lambasting Shell, this often self-aggrandizing filing out in the low-tech Santa Monica Courthouse has innocuous cameos by the likes of Ari Emanuel and Jay Penske, among others.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
This self-aggrandizing aria found a large audience, selling more than 100,000 copies in its first week and topping the charts on Amazon.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
This debut wasn’t a self-aggrandizing spectacle.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Oct. 2025
Not for the praise, not for self-aggrandizing satisfaction of a dish made perfectly.
—Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-aggrandizing
Adjective
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The tricky part of being a celebrity like Firstman on the internet is that some people can conflate your comedic persona (which is maybe a little arrogant, a little colorful) with your real identity.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
-
Hunter is stubborn, arrogant and gifted enough to play for the Briar hockey team, yet refuses to for reasons the show has yet to reveal.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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She’s been warning us since 1818 that vainglorious innovators will destroy the earth.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Melodramatic and vainglorious, moody and capricious, a fidgety, neurotic hypochondriac, Stalin was a bundle of appalling contradictions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Hathaway gets the most fun part to play in this formidable ensemble, starring as egotistical actress Daphne Kluger, who starts as the mark but ends up enlisting among the thieves.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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Demolishes the East Wing of the White House on an egotistical whim?—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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And it could be accelerated by the continued rise of angry, resentful, self-glorifying nationalism in many countries.—
Michael J. Mazarr,
Foreign Affairs,
6 May 2022
Adjective
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Critics call social media posts self-promotion While the president praised her as a fighter, critics called out her self-promoting social media use, including videos showing her in tactical gear at raids with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
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The characters were mostly comic, from shamelessly self-promoting wannabe pop star Scheana Shay to vain rock frontman Tom Sandoval.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
4 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Avoid Burying Praise in Negatives To avoid making children too conceited, parents might bury praise in the midst of negatives.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And it’s been a very bumptious relationship ever since.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
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In public, Newsom speaks often and openly about his errors, fortifying his image as a bumptious, slightly hapless victim of his own enthusiasms.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-aggrandizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-aggrandizing. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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