as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a self-important businessman who believed his schedule mattered more than anyone else's
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-important
Jeffrey Tambor Known for playing the pompous, self-important mayor of Whoville, Jeffery Tambor also has an esteemed career across television and film.
—
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Not to throw shade, but Aries can be self-important, similarly to how Collins deals with his relationship to others.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
Putting on a show that’s self-important at worst, familiar and forced at best, this frustrating fever dream (a generous term) offers only a handful of surprises to the average horror fan.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025
Like Muscle Man, Mixtape follows a self-important, inarticulate mediocrity on the fringe of a minor American metropolis.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-important
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Not to throw shade, but Aries can be self-important, similarly to how Collins deals with his relationship to others.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
Putting on a show that’s self-important at worst, familiar and forced at best, this frustrating fever dream (a generous term) offers only a handful of surprises to the average horror fan.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025
Like Muscle Man, Mixtape follows a self-important, inarticulate mediocrity on the fringe of a minor American metropolis.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-important
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-important
Adjective
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The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The series has devolved into a hysteria that the young and arrogant Timberwolves feed on since that first quarter of Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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However, many thought Tilson Thomas too brash and arrogant to lead an orchestra, and, around the same time, Tilson Thomas fell in with New York’s disco-hopping crowd.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The proud Westeros family of dragonlords have always been intent on making things bend to their (fair-haired, dragon-loving) will, even when the chips were down.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Apr. 2026
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Gordon Ramsay is one proud dad as daughter Tilly Ramsay completes the TCS London Marathon on April 26 in London.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In reply, Rishabh Pant’s 42 went in vain as Lucknow faltered to finish with 155-8 in 20 overs, and then ultimately lost the Super Over.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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While rescuers searched in vain, distraught relatives of passengers rushed to the ValuJet counter at Miami International.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 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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The vainglorious demands of one man who can’t read a map? Concerned leaders in both parties should explain to the citizens of the United States how much peril Trump is courting.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
14 Jan. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Self-important.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-important. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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