as in cocky
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arrogant
Petzold had arrived arrogant and entitled; confronted by the technical ability and imagination of his peers, he was humbled, then stultified.
—
Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
But for some, it was seen as arrogant.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
This is an organization that can be frustratingly set in its ways and arrogant in its belief that there’s no better way.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arrogant
Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
But for some, it was seen as arrogant.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
This is an organization that can be frustratingly set in its ways and arrogant in its belief that there’s no better way.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arrogant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arrogant
Adjective
-
Many of them had a cocky attitude, even after their fathers were killed.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The final movement starts off with a timpani riff, which triggers a cocky dance that invokes Peterson’s high-speed fingers, shooting off at Road Runner pace.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And the less said of the poorly mixed, pompous Machina, the better.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The pompous clergyman enters the life of the Bennet family, his distant cousins, with the assumption that, given his respectable position and benefactor, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, one of those daughters would be happy to marry him.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
According to inside sources, Prince William wishes to establish a meaningful relationship with Mullally, knowing that the Archbishop will also preside over his future coronation and will, in fact, be his superior in the Church.—
Stefania Conrieri,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
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Bolstered by a vastly superior air force and hard-to-overwhelm missile defenses, Israel is more than a match for its enemies, even Iran, and will remain so for a decade or more.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Another important note to make is that Lupaia is closed during the winter season for improvements to the rooms, garden, public area, and overall guest experience since the weather is too unpredictable to welcome guests during that time anyway.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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Nonresidents have such an important role to play in the management of wildlife in Wyoming, and obviously nonresident [hunting and fishing] licenses cost a lot more than resident ones do.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As Wilson, Jenny Ashman is suitably snide and supercilious, a great comic villain.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 Jan. 2026
-
And now the supercilious Ivy League twits try to dodge the consequences of their woke follies.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
24 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In character as a free spirit who scorns social convention, Davis is all haughty tosses of the head and sneering lines.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Stella crossed the street and loitered outside the store window displaying haughty mannequins flaunting swagger coats.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Bateman’s Clark is comfortably semi-famous, semi-smug and also, maybe, a decent guy.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And it’s been a very bumptious relationship ever since.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
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In public, Newsom speaks often and openly about his errors, fortifying his image as a bumptious, slightly hapless victim of his own enthusiasms.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arrogant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arrogant. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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