as in arrogant
informal
having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people
a bunch of hoity-toity snobs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tomfoolery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of hoity-toity
Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Dec. 2024
Zazu, Scar’s winged associate, is played with hoity-toity dry wit by Nick LaMedica.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024
And just in case equestrian events aren’t hoity-toity enough, the 2024 dressage and jumping will unfold at the Palace of Versailles.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 24 May 2024
From the hoity-toity BAFTAs to the jovial People’s Choice Awards, the events this past week were pretty varied.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2024
And about having specific opinions about art not being some elitist hoity-toity thing.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023
When the Harmonists get their big break at a hoity-toity Berlin establishment, the cast does well sending up overserious waiters, holding platters in front of their crotches for a flurry of phallic jokes.
—Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023
At the same time, though, the property is anything but hoity-toity.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023
Besides being utterly bereft of shame, Thomas has cultivated a fake image as an Everyman, more comfortable parking his RV among the little folk in the Walmart parking lots than rubbing shoulders with hoity-toity types.
—Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
Noun
Ditch your hoity-toity cocktail reception to get down with some hometown talent and hang with a hip-hop heavyweight.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Dec. 2024
Zazu, Scar’s winged associate, is played with hoity-toity dry wit by Nick LaMedica.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024
And just in case equestrian events aren’t hoity-toity enough, the 2024 dressage and jumping will unfold at the Palace of Versailles.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 24 May 2024
From the hoity-toity BAFTAs to the jovial People’s Choice Awards, the events this past week were pretty varied.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2024
And about having specific opinions about art not being some elitist hoity-toity thing.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023
When the Harmonists get their big break at a hoity-toity Berlin establishment, the cast does well sending up overserious waiters, holding platters in front of their crotches for a flurry of phallic jokes.
—Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023
At the same time, though, the property is anything but hoity-toity.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023
Besides being utterly bereft of shame, Thomas has cultivated a fake image as an Everyman, more comfortable parking his RV among the little folk in the Walmart parking lots than rubbing shoulders with hoity-toity types.
—Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoity-toity
Adjective
-
Teamsters officials later complained that Harris, who would go on to lose all seven battleground states, was arrogant in her dealings with them.W. James Antle III, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024
-
Russia, Iran, and many other countries criticize U.S. military interventions as arrogant, ignorant of local context, and unable to fashion either stable regimes or effective security structures.Alexander Baunov, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
If humans can use emotional tomfoolery to prevail over AI, there is a certain kind of endearing fulfillment in doing so.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
-
Aside from those two couple moments, Turner's post also included plenty of tomfoolery with friends and documented some of her travels — from skiing in January to an October trip to an ancient temple in Egypt.Julia Moore, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
João Franco Photo: Bravo/Mark Rogers/Bravo Deckhand/Bosun Below Deck Mediterranean Seasons 3-4 — 2nd Officer/Bosun Below Deck Down Under Season 2 — Why can’t someone knock the smug look off of this deckie turned bosun’s face?Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024
-
But the second half becomes increasingly generic conspiracy stuff, leading to a two-part conclusion that’s more smug and sanctimonious than the preceding action can justify.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
This process delays prosecutors who are racing against the clock, potentially jeopardizing important cases.Zellnor Myrie, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2025
-
Outkast was just as important, ushering in the mainstream era of Southern rap that dominates hip-hop to this day.Troy Smith, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
While the palace guards congratulate and pet Weasel and treat him as a hero for saving the country, Nina’s death is pointless and in vain.Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025
-
Any suggestion that the disaster — which has already killed two people, destroyed about 1,000 structures and caused 70,000 people to be placed under an evacuation order — would lead to a moment of national unity was in vain.Niall Stanage, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Theo James and Theo James are getting into some serious monkey business.Nick Romano, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2024
-
But there was some monkey business during his very first scene that gave him pause.Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 10 May 2024
Adjective
-
Ben Stiller, the director, executive producer, and a key creative force behind the show, is certainly too famous to show up at this pop-up, let alone stand outside of it among the people, snapping photos on his smartphone like a proud dad at his kid's dance recital.Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025
-
Green would likely be proud of the award-winning bottles being produced today.Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Is there a company that prides itself on an absence of rigmarole?Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 July 2024
-
Last season’s nail-biting seven-game battle was famously known as the I-80 series because both teams opted for the approximately 90-minute (depending on traffic) bus ride rather than the rigmarole of a short flight.Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
Articles Related to hoity-toity
Thesaurus Entries Near hoity-toity
Cite this Entry
“Hoity-toity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoity-toity. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share