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haughty

adjective
haugh·​ty | \ ˈhȯ-tÄ“ How to pronounce haughty (audio) , ˈhä-\
haughtier; haughtiest

Definition of haughty

: blatantly and disdainfully proud : having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior haughty aristocrats haughty young beauty … never deigned to notice us— Herman Melville
Other Words from haughty Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Connotations of Haughty More Example Sentences Learn More about haughty

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Other Words from haughty

haughtily \ ˈhȯ-​tÉ™-​lÄ“ How to pronounce haughtily (audio) , ˈhä-​ \ adverb
haughtiness \ ˈhȯ-​tÄ“-​nÉ™s How to pronounce haughtiness (audio) , ˈhä-​ \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for haughty

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

The Connotations of Haughty

Someone who is haughty looks down on others—and that position high above everyone else is present in the word's etymology. Haughty traces back to the Anglo-French halt or haut, which means literally "high."

The word has strong negative connotations. Someone who is described as "haughty" is proud in the worst way. This is not the pride a parent feels for a child who's worked hard at something, and it's not the pride a marathoner feels for completing a race. The word haughty communicates a kind of pride that is obviously full of contempt for others deemed inferior or unworthy.

The word is not applied only to people. Haughty often modifies nouns like glare, look, appearance, and attitude.

Examples of haughty in a Sentence

He rejected their offer with a tone of haughty disdain. the haughty waiter smirked when I remarked that it was odd that a French restaurant didn't even have french fries on the menu

Recent Examples on the Web

 But as far as stunts go, The Bell—with its haughty air of exclusivity, its hulking leap from stoner grub to Palm Springs resort, and its so-blatant-it’s-ironic approach to marketing—is the stuntiest. — Mitchell Kuga, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Stay at the Taco Bell Hotel in Palm Springs," 21 Aug. 2019 Madison Pullins impishly misbehaves as youngest sister Lydia and is unconvincingly haughty as the overbearing Lady Catherine de Bourgh. — Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: Shakespeare’s twins, Jane Austen romance delight in Santa Cruz," 31 July 2019 Meanwhile, Ainsley’s haughty English neighbor (Downton Abbey’s Zoe Boyle) is jealous of Maya’s history with her new best friend. — Judy Berman, Time, "Four Weddings and a Funeral," 24 July 2019 Everybody dons cowboy hats for the brothers’ country number faux-lamenting Joseph’s death and berets for their melodramatic pastiche of French ballads (led by Jordan Smith as a haughty Simeon wielding a cigarette holder). — Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: Quirky, cheeky ‘Dreamcoat’ kicks up some fun at Tri-Valley Rep," 25 July 2019 He was shaken by the huge demonstrations against him in 2011 and 2012 over fraud in parliamentary elections and his haughty job switch with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. — The Washington Post, Twin Cities, "Other voices: What does Putin fear?," 25 July 2019 Where, wondered the haughty Britons, were the other 12 ministers? — Thomas Wendel, National Review, "The Beginning of a Nation," 4 July 2019 San Nicolas' commitment to looking as ridiculous as possible is matched by the other actors, including Bogdewiecz as the haughty Marian and Walton as the foppish Sir Guy. — oregonlive.com, "Irreverent spirit lifts Clackamas Rep’s ‘Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood’," 1 July 2019 The property is reigned over by the haughty Marchesa Alfonsina de Luna (Nicoletta Braschi, Robert Benigni’s better half), who has about 50 people working for her on her tobacco plantation as sharecroppers. — Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Happy as Lazzaro' ('Lazzaro Felice'): Film Review | Cannes 2018," 13 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'haughty.' 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 haughty

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for haughty

obsolete haught, from Middle English haute, from Anglo-French halt, haut, literally, high, from Latin altus — more at old

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More Definitions for haughty

haughty

adjective
How to pronounce haughty (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of haughty

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

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

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