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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-important
The self-important Brackman often was the butt of his colleagues’ jokes.
—
Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Nov. 2024
Balmy does prove to be slightly sinister and fully absurd, in the way of self-important cult leaders everywhere, and Le Moulin even more so.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The former excels at playing the earthy, sly, seductive trickster, the latter, the pompous, self-important rich boy.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024
What about Miami would attract a phony, conniving, self-important, billionaire pedophile?
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for self-important
Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Nov. 2024
Balmy does prove to be slightly sinister and fully absurd, in the way of self-important cult leaders everywhere, and Le Moulin even more so.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The former excels at playing the earthy, sly, seductive trickster, the latter, the pompous, self-important rich boy.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024
What about Miami would attract a phony, conniving, self-important, billionaire pedophile?
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for self-important
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-important
Adjective
-
The washers contain a large haul of cocaine, which Mia and Charlie are tasked with delivering to the Chinatown hangout of smug young local Triad boss Tsui Fong (Jeremy Ang Jones) to square up a debt.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
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Drew continues to dutifully poke holes in Brit’s victim narrative, telling the new girl that her smug attitude following Kenya’s firing is alienating.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2025
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Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And for any fan of the show — and Wilson’s over-the-top, egotistical Dwight — the lyrics might not be a total surprise.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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In the 1998 episode, Theroux, 53, appears briefly as an egotistical writer who flirts with Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw at a party.—
John Russell,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
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Christine Brown's 6 Children: All About Her Son and Daughters with Sister Wives Costar and Ex Kody Brown In December 2022, Christine shared a proud mom moment with her followers on Instagram, explaining how Truely stood up to a bully at school who was bothering her friend.—
Karli Bendlin,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Not gaining admission to a BS/MD program after years of work can feel like a setback, but rest assured that your hard work will not be in vain.—
Kristen Moon,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Real celebrities guest-starred in often awkward encounters with the always vain and self-centered Miss Piggy.—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ivy-as-Marilyn is an inconsiderate, amphetamine guzzling faux-intellectual whose devotion to the acting craft is presented as a vainglorious affectation.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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The name is meant to evoke Theodore Roosevelt’s vainglorious 1898 cavalry charge up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Rory Kinnear steals some of the best lines as the conceited British prime minister, and Ato Essandoh, as Kate’s deputy chief, plays the ever-flustered man surrounded by extremely capable women with admirable humor, charm, and confidence.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Nelis renders the professor a pompous and pedantic twit but not a heartless one.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Our rituals and our cassocks are pompous.—
Paul Elie,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-important.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-important. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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