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arrogant

adjective
ar·​ro·​gant | \ ˈer-ə-gənt How to pronounce arrogant (audio) , ˈa-rə-\

Definition of arrogant

1 : exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner an arrogant official
2 : showing an offensive attitude of superiority : proceeding from or characterized by arrogance an arrogant reply
Other Words from arrogant Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about arrogant

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Other Words from arrogant

arrogantly adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for arrogant

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors. proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness. too proud to take charity arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted. a conceited and arrogant executive haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position. a haughty aristocrat lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power. a lordly condescension insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness. ignored by an insolent waiter overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence. an overbearing supervisor supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness. an aloof and supercilious manner disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness. disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of arrogant in a Sentence

Tim Blixseth, the founder of the Yellowstone Club and other gated hideaways, tells Frank: "I don't like most rich people. They can be arrogant." This from a man who owns two Shih Tzus named Learjet and G2. — Alex Beam, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 2007 Arrogant execs are not the only targets of investors' ire.  … There's no telling how much money analysts such as Meeker cost investors with their interminable buy recommendations on Internet stocks that eventually went bust. — Marcia Vickers et al., Business Week, 25 Feb. 2002 Despite her social and business status in Washington, Graham remained unassuming and down to earth. Her quiet but steady courage affirmed women such as Geneva Overhosler, a former editor and Post ombudsman, by showing a woman could be powerful without being arrogant. — Mark Fitzgerald et al., Editor & Publisher, 23 July 2001 Shakespeare must have known that while his audiences loved to see villains punished and arrogant young men humbled, they did not want to fidget and squirm through mea culpas before the final scene. — Elaine Showalter, Civilization, April/May 1999 She's first in her class, but she's not arrogant about it. the arrogant young lawyer elbowed his way to the head of the line of customers, declaring that he was too busy to wait like everybody else
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Recent Examples on the Web

 In response to clients’ complaints about its able but arrogant employees, one management consultancy asked comedians to teach its clever clogs how to be less obnoxious (or at least come across as such). — The Economist, "What companies can learn from comedians," 22 Aug. 2019 But that’s the Olympics; thrilling sports moments are too often suffocated by scandal and the acts of arrogant and corrupt administrators. — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, "One year from Tokyo Olympics, doping scandals right on schedule," 24 July 2019 As a result, the players have been branded as brash and even arrogant. — Anne M. Peterson, baltimoresun.com, "Carli Lloyd says 2019 U.S. World Cup team not a continuation of 2015," 4 July 2019 As a result, the players have been branded as brash and even arrogant. — Anne M. Peterson, BostonGlobe.com, "Carli Lloyd sees uniqueness in 2019 US squad," 4 July 2019 That Johnson is undisciplined, careless, and arrogant could not be more widely documented or better known. — Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, "Will Boris Johnson’s “Late-Night Altercation” Sink His Bid to Become Prime Minister?," 23 June 2019 Paul Pogba has been ridiculously inconsistent and annoyingly arrogant, Lukaku is a laughing stock and lord knows what Fred is. — SI.com, "Manchester United 2019/20: The Red Devils Must Focus Summer Recruitment on Young Guns," 22 June 2019 And from that has arisen the anxiety that our exceptionalism is at best simply odd, and at worst simply arrogant. — Allen C. Guelzo, WSJ, "America Was Always an Exceptional Nation, but Is It Still?," 23 Nov. 2018 His bizarre and arrogant facial expressions spread throughout the internet like this one. — Fox News, "Watters' Words: A tale of two tours," 15 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'arrogant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of arrogant

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for arrogant

Middle English, from Latin arrogant-, arrogans, present participle of arrogare — see arrogate

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More Definitions for arrogant

arrogant

adjective
How to pronounce arrogant (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of arrogant

: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people : having or showing arrogance

See the full definition for arrogant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

arrogant

adjective
ar·​ro·​gant |

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