Meaning & use
arrogant
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Meaning
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Behaving as if you are better or more important than others, and showing little respect for them.
Grammar: Describes a person, manner or remark: an arrogant tone; he is arrogant.
Patterns
- arrogant about something
- arrogant to do something
The arrogant manager ignored every suggestion from the junior staff.
It was arrogant of him to assume everyone would agree.
She seemed arrogant at first, but she was actually just shy.
Word forms
| comparative | more arrogant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most arrogant |
Common combinations
- arrogant attitude
- His arrogant attitude cost him many friends.
- arrogant manner
- She spoke in an arrogant manner that annoyed the audience.
- arrogant and rude
- The waiter was arrogant and rude to the guests.
- arrogant enough to
- Only someone arrogant enough to ignore advice would try it.
- seem arrogant
- Don't seem arrogant in the interview; be confident but humble.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conceited
- Conceited stresses an inflated opinion of oneself, while arrogant adds contempt for others.
- haughty
- Haughty is more formal and describes a cold, superior look or manner.
- cocky
- Cocky is informal and often describes youthful overconfidence, which is milder than arrogant.
- overbearing
- Overbearing focuses on forcing your will on others, not on thinking highly of yourself.
Opposites
Word family
- arrogance noun
- The quality of being arrogant.
- arrogantly adverb
- In an arrogant way.
- arrogate verb
- To claim something without the right to it, as in arrogate power.
Commonly confused: arrogant or confident? arrogant or ignorant?
arrogant vs confident
Confident means sure of your abilities without putting others down. Arrogant implies disrespect for other people.
arrogant vs ignorant
Ignorant means lacking knowledge. It sounds a bit like arrogant, but the meanings differ.
Practice
Which describes someone who is arrogant rather than merely confident?
Choose one answer.
Arrogance involves looking down on others. Trusting your skills while listening, admitting mistakes, or feeling nervous are not arrogant.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “arrogant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.