arrogance
noun
ar·ro·gance
ˈer-ə-gən(t)s 
ˈa-rə-
: an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions
Synonyms
- assumption
- bumptiousness
- consequence
- haughtiness
- hauteur
- high horse
- huffiness
- imperiousness
- loftiness
- lordliness
- masterfulness
- peremptoriness
- pomposity
- pompousness
- presumptuousness
- pretense
- pretence
- pretension
- pretentiousness
- self-consequence
- self-importance
- superciliousness
- superiority
- toploftiness
Examples of arrogance in a Sentence
He was like a movie star at his high school reunion, muting his arrogance and trying to be a regular guy for old times' sake. He seemed to genuinely appreciate the honor.
—
Carlo Rotella, New York Times Sports Magazine, June 2008
This kind of official arrogance is not new, of course, although it is perhaps more common in dictatorships than in democracies.
—Ian Buruma, New York Times Book Review, 17 Sept. 2006
Arrogance is, at once, what an athlete most needs and what fans least want to see.
—Dan Le Batard, ESPN, 15 Mar. 2004
A British expat who could have stepped out of a Graham Greene plot, Twyman makes an improbable Jamaican hero. His self-assurance borders on arrogance, particularly when something is not done precisely the way he would do it himself.
—Barry Estabrook, Gourmet, July 2003
Her arrogance has earned her a lot of enemies.
We were shocked by the arrogance of his comments.
Carlo Rotella, New York Times Sports Magazine, June 2008
This kind of official arrogance is not new, of course, although it is perhaps more common in dictatorships than in democracies.
—Ian Buruma, New York Times Book Review, 17 Sept. 2006
Arrogance is, at once, what an athlete most needs and what fans least want to see.
—Dan Le Batard, ESPN, 15 Mar. 2004
A British expat who could have stepped out of a Graham Greene plot, Twyman makes an improbable Jamaican hero. His self-assurance borders on arrogance, particularly when something is not done precisely the way he would do it himself.
—Barry Estabrook, Gourmet, July 2003
Her arrogance has earned her a lot of enemies.
We were shocked by the arrogance of his comments.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dastmalchian gets to play it all — disbelief, arrogance, grieving, terrified — sometimes in the same moment.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
These things are a big investment of time and to have not one, but two of them that might otherwise have had a reasonable expectation of success — probably arrogance on my part — but still, many times an author who gets published once can get published a second time.
—Choire Sicha, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024
The arrogance and self-importance are off the charts.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2024
My arrogance and chronic distraction has created wreckage.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arrogance 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jenelle Riley, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
These things are a big investment of time and to have not one, but two of them that might otherwise have had a reasonable expectation of success — probably arrogance on my part — but still, many times an author who gets published once can get published a second time.
—Choire Sicha, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024
The arrogance and self-importance are off the charts.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2024
My arrogance and chronic distraction has created wreckage.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arrogance
Dictionary Entries Near arrogance
Cite this Entry
“Arrogance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrogance. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
arrogance
noun
ar·ro·gance
ˈar-ə-gən(t)s
: a sense of one's own importance that shows itself in a proud and insulting way
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share