1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
the pompous waiter served us in the manner of a person doing some poor soul a great favor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a pompous piano teacher who thought that the music world was lucky to have her
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pretentious
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
a pompous gambling casino decorated to look like a palace in ancient Rome
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pompous
Manji will appear as Crispin, an arrogant, pompous employee at a fancy, high-end hardware store who snubs George.
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Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
Still, this adaptation of an O. Henry story tilts all its sympathies toward the outlaw hero the Cisco Kid (Warner Baxter, in a Best Actor–winning role) and away from the pompous white soldier charged with tracking him down.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Both Anna and Ivan had wanted to keep it small and simple, to do something at a cafe, nothing pompous, but one thing led to another, and all their relatives came.
—Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024
And will Ingrid forgive him for being such a pompous jerk?
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pompous 
Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
Still, this adaptation of an O. Henry story tilts all its sympathies toward the outlaw hero the Cisco Kid (Warner Baxter, in a Best Actor–winning role) and away from the pompous white soldier charged with tracking him down.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024
Both Anna and Ivan had wanted to keep it small and simple, to do something at a cafe, nothing pompous, but one thing led to another, and all their relatives came.
—Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024
And will Ingrid forgive him for being such a pompous jerk?
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pompous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pompous
Adjective
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Manji will appear as Crispin, an arrogant, pompous employee at a fancy, high-end hardware store who snubs George.Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
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My 21-year-old grandson is a dramatic and arrogant know-it-all.Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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But while the 118 is able to save both Celeste and her mother-in-law’s final resting place, a smug Trent trips and drops the vase, an appropriate punchline to a very silly cold open.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
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The smug conventional wisdom has it that voters don’t care much about abstractions like democracy or the rule of law.Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Yet Connell of all people, whose pretentious classmates use novels to seem superior, should know that the love of literature is hardly disinterested.Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
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Once the very idea of holding a wine tasting at one’s home was considered a pretentious way of ruining a convivial party.John Mariani, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Gregory is touched by the compliment and proud of his ability to connect with a student, but Darnell isn’t pleased with the idea of another man forming a bond with his son.Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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Honorees who have contributed to proud and authentic Jewish storytelling will include: Sheryl Sandberg’s Screams before Silence, Netflix’s Fauda and Jewish Matchmaking, FX’s The Patient, Amazon’s Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey, and David Baddiel’s documentary, Jews Don’t Count.Marc Berman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Developed by renowned hospitality company Method Co., this grandiose structure comes complete with a wellness center, boutique hotel and four unique drinking and dining concepts, each one acting as a tangible reminder of Atlanta’s culinary prowess.Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
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Real, systemic change doesn’t always come from sweeping initiatives or grandiose visions.Chloe Berger, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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From this noble, if admittedly egotistical goal, come gaslighting, madness, war, self-mutilation, and murder.James Grebey, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
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Pharrell Williams’s egotistical fantasy Talent is not always original.Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Founded in 1868, the Café de Paris is probably the most famous restaurant in Monaco and has an ostentatious Belle Époque style evoking an old Parisian bistro.Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
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The Chinese government’s anti-corruption crackdown targeting high-ranking officials and wealthy individuals has led to less ostentatious and obvious shows of wealth.Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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This reward is coming in from the universe to remind you that all of your inner work has not been done in vain.Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2024
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MacArthur was a vain glory seeker, and his actions cost thousands of lives.Smithsonian magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pompous
Cite this Entry
“Pompous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pompous. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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