pomposity

noun

pom·​pos·​i·​ty päm-ˈpä-sə-tē 

plural pomposities

1

: pompous demeanor, speech, or behavior

2

: a pompous gesture, habit, or act

Synonyms

• arrogance
• assumption
• bumptiousness
• consequence
• haughtiness
• hauteur
• high horse
• huffiness
• imperiousness
• loftiness
• lordliness
• masterfulness
• peremptoriness
• pompousness
• presumptuousness
• pretense
• pretence
• pretension
• pretentiousness
• self-consequence
• self-importance
• superciliousness
• superiority
• toploftiness

Examples of pomposity in a Sentence

restaurant reviews that are written with a pomposity that will leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth

his over-the-top trophy mansion should give you some idea of his pomposity

Recent Examples on the Web

His boisterous persona was more comical than confrontational, a hot-air balloon of strutting pomposity punctured by his family. —Jim McKairnes, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025

Lacking the pop cultural connection of Vox Lux, The Brutalist’s pomposity becomes unrelatable, if not repugnant. —Armond White, National Review, 3 Jan. 2025

Beyond this situation, Sankey carries himself with a repugnant level of pomposity. —Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 5 Apr. 2024

Critics sometimes faulted his performances for pomposity. —Jill Leovy, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1