1
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
the boxer's flamboyant self-importance often made for a colorful prefight press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
her overbearing self-importance has given her a sense of entitlement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-importance
Ego, in his framework, is not swagger or self-importance.
—
Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
This population crisis feeds into a post-imperial syndrome, where the decline of empire and power status invokes a sense of loss of self-importance that gives rise to resentment and an unwavering commitment to retain great power status.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Sonny was married for more than 40 years to his beloved Margo — who, as was often the case of the wives of famous/infamous men, knew exactly how and when to best burst his occasional balloon of self-importance and puffery.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The show brought blockbuster buzz for its first season from the start and the Emmys ate it up, whether because of Hollywood’s love for stories about itself (with A-list guest stars) or the television industry’s love for stories that mock the self-importance of movie people.
—Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
We’d sometimes get threatened, and that only inflated our self-importance.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Late-night show hosts now have an attitude of self-importance, congratulating themselves for their work.
—Andrea Ruth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
This population crisis feeds into a post-imperial syndrome, where the decline of empire and power status invokes a sense of loss of self-importance that gives rise to resentment and an unwavering commitment to retain great power status.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Sonny was married for more than 40 years to his beloved Margo — who, as was often the case of the wives of famous/infamous men, knew exactly how and when to best burst his occasional balloon of self-importance and puffery.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The show brought blockbuster buzz for its first season from the start and the Emmys ate it up, whether because of Hollywood’s love for stories about itself (with A-list guest stars) or the television industry’s love for stories that mock the self-importance of movie people.
—Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
We’d sometimes get threatened, and that only inflated our self-importance.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Late-night show hosts now have an attitude of self-importance, congratulating themselves for their work.
—Andrea Ruth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-importance
Noun
-
The problem is that without Humility, confidence easily becomes arrogance, decisiveness becomes impulsive, and expertise becomes a barrier to learning.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
In Polis’ case, so does arrogance.—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
All to justify his vanity project.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
-
The director describes him less as a young actor searching for a performance than as someone instinctively in tune with the character’s vanity, insecurity and swagger.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Ryan Tintner, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s space superiority systems division, said the company is combining advanced missile defense technologies with commercial-sector partnerships to support Golden Dome priorities.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
-
The threshold for superiority has shape-shifted throughout NBA history.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
By catering to his ego, international leaders can persuade Washington to forget—or at least to ignore—past tensions.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
3 June 2026
-
Out of this evolutionary necessity, new ways of leading are emerging based on the consciousness of a connected self, that both embraces the ego and puts it in service of a bigger picture, a higher calling.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Fans can expect this and more on her next release, and all pride aside— a B-sides version of her major label debut, with all due respect.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
3 June 2026
-
Chef Sisca’s personal pride is the classic French omelette, served traditionally with asparagus, French feta, chive and pommes frites or salad.—
Jillian Dara,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-importance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-importance. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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