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as in cavalier
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the presumptuous doctor didn't even bother to explain to me the treatment that I would be receiving

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example 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 presumptuous That’s not to say Aspinall cannot compete with him in the latter rounds, but that would be highly presumptuous. Brett Appley, The Athletic, 26 July 2024 The light-skinned kid, Turner (Brandon Wilson), rebuffs Elwood’s gesture in response, thinking him presumptuous or fey, probably. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024 The former athlete/coach-mind in me couldn’t help but cringe … is Notre Dame being too presumptuous here? Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 26 July 2024 There have been presumptuous attempts, for example, to pin Bieber’s pill and promethazine addictions on the fallout from his two-day stay with the Bad Boy Records founder. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for presumptuous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presumptuous
Adjective
  • Saxon, for instance, is filling the same spoiled, arrogant space as Jake Lacy’s Shane from Season One.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
  • From director James Ashcroft (Coming Home in the Dark), who co-wrote the script with Eli Kent, The Rule of Jenny Pen centers on arrogant judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush), who has to live in a retirement home after a near-fatal stroke leaves him partially paralyzed.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • While Arrowhead Stadium will be empty in 2025, T-Mobile Center, Midland Theatre, Uptown Theater, Starlight and others are busy.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2025
  • December was busy as ever, squeezing in bites between holiday parties, restaurant reviews and end-of-year deadlines.
    Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In many ways, Payne’s life and death have the familiar contours of a pop tragedy: a young artist, whose talents were often at odds with his demons, experiencing the apex of stardom as well as its depths.
    Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Dexter: Resurrection has booked another familiar name.
    Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something officious about Alden Ehrenreich.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Her charming luxury treasure trove has none of that officious chilliness that defines the typical store of its ilk but instead feels like a brocanterie crammed with interesting, unexpected luxury goods from across the world.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Oliver then suddenly appeared with a smug look on his face.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Remember how, in that SNL book, Ferrell represented the hip future of comedy, mocking the smug boomer shtick of a Chevy Chase?
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Er, well, for the dozens of proud Vision Pro owners.
    Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2025
  • By drawing from his Mexican and Irish American roots, as well as his life as a proud gay man, Chavarria flaunts his progressive principles while creating new and novel experiences on the runway.
    Cat Cardenas, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The more successful the program, the more intrusive the impact on neighborhoods.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Richard Painter, the White House's top ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration, says this is uncharted territory and no Democratic or Republican administration has ever sent people into agencies in such an intrusive manner.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Not to be immodest, but the third did more than the second and the second did more than the first.
    Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024
  • In my family you were not allowed to be immodest or boastful.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 28 June 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near presumptuous

Cite this Entry

“Presumptuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presumptuous. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

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