self-important

adjective

self-im·​por·​tant ˌself-im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt How to pronounce self-important (audio)
-tənt
: having or showing self-importance
self-importantly adverb

Examples of self-important in a Sentence

a self-important businessman who believed his schedule mattered more than anyone else's
Recent Examples on the Web 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 And both weave rich tapestries out of seemingly disconnected actions through a panoramic collection of archetypes: the criminal outsider, the lonely lady, the political expert, the self-important political climber, the master manipulator. Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019 See all Example Sentences for self-important 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-important.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-important was in 1732

Dictionary Entries Near self-important

Cite this Entry

“Self-important.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-important. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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