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Recent Examples of superiority complex
His superiority complex results in every seeming slight getting added to his list of offenses, while his lack of self-esteem (which of course often comes with a superiority complex) ensures that the decency of others further fuels his rage.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
This gulf has long been a source of misunderstandings, superiority complexes and also humor.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Nov. 2025
Narcissists are known for their sense of entitlement, self-centeredness, superiority complex, and condescending attitude toward others.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The Neun are your bosses, with excessively potent abilities and superiority complexes to match.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Regarding the supporting cast, Dave is a white, privileged dude with a superiority complex, and in the show, he’s surrounded by people of color who challenge his perception of himself.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 July 2025
Khan is arrogant and has maintained his superiority complex towards his Arlen neighbors.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 10 July 2025
However, because a superiority complex is so closely related to narcissistic personality disorder, experts theorize that the effects of NPD can sometimes overlap with the effects of a superiority complex.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Aug. 2024
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
This gulf has long been a source of misunderstandings, superiority complexes and also humor.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Nov. 2025
Narcissists are known for their sense of entitlement, self-centeredness, superiority complex, and condescending attitude toward others.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The Neun are your bosses, with excessively potent abilities and superiority complexes to match.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Regarding the supporting cast, Dave is a white, privileged dude with a superiority complex, and in the show, he’s surrounded by people of color who challenge his perception of himself.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 July 2025
Khan is arrogant and has maintained his superiority complex towards his Arlen neighbors.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 10 July 2025
However, because a superiority complex is so closely related to narcissistic personality disorder, experts theorize that the effects of NPD can sometimes overlap with the effects of a superiority complex.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superiority complex
Noun
-
Girl Next Door came into this year's championship riding its high horse after stunning the city with upset after upset as a No. 11 seed in 2025, all the way to the Final Four before losing to the eventual champ, Crazy Norse (Barleycorn's).—
Rasputin Todd,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Air sign likes to advise those in need, and will get up on their high horse and grandstand so their views can be heard.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While their energies differ, nearly all of them share the same basic drives (money, power, status) and the same fundamental flaws (greed, arrogance, selfishness).—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Their defensive style can look like arrogance or hostility.—
Paul Sanchez Ruiz,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Critics accused American Eagle and Sweeney of creating an ad that implied that white people from a European background have genetic superiority over everyone else.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
They have been used so often, the labels have worked to beguile the Democratic base into accepting that Republicans really are evil, that all the hyperbolic language is true and that progressives should be proud of their moral and intellectual superiority.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
However, in the wrong hands, being silent can signal disdain and superciliousness.—
Matteo Atti,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In a Wednesday news conference, Mayor Brandon Scott offered his condolences to Oduor’s family and encouraged residents to wait for the results of the full police investigation before making assumptions about what could have prevented Oduor’s death.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The assumption was that hardware mattered most.—
J. Kyle Foster,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superiority complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superiority%20complex. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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