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Meaning & use

prideful

adjective·Academicdisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˈpraɪdfəl/
US/ˈpraɪdfəl/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Too pleased with yourself and your own importance, in a way that annoys other people.

    Grammar: Can follow a linking verb or come before a noun: he was prideful; a prideful man.

    Patterns

    • prideful about something
    • be too prideful to do something

    He was too prideful to ask for help, even when the work piled up.

    Her prideful refusal to apologize ended the friendship.

    A prideful ruler rarely listens to advice.

  2. adjectivecomparablerare

    Showing a quiet, warm sense of satisfaction in an achievement.

    Grammar: This milder sense is rarer and usually describes a look or a smile: a prideful grin.

    The grandmother gave a prideful smile as the children took their bows.

    He watched his daughter graduate with a prideful tear in his eye.

Word forms

comparativemore prideful
superlativemost prideful

Common combinations

too prideful
He was too prideful to admit he was lost.
a prideful man
A prideful man often struggles to say sorry.
prideful attitude
Her prideful attitude cost her the job.
prideful refusal
Their prideful refusal to compromise stalled the talks.
prideful smile
A prideful smile spread across his face.

Synonyms and how they differ

arrogant
Arrogant stresses looking down on others, whereas prideful focuses on stubborn self-regard and can be quieter.
haughty
Haughty describes a visibly superior manner, such as a cold stare, while prideful may be felt inside.
proud
Proud is neutral or positive in many contexts, but prideful is almost always critical.

Opposites

humblemodest

Word family

pride noun
a feeling of satisfaction, or of too much self-importance
pridefully adverb
in a prideful way
pridefulness noun
the quality of being prideful
proud adjective
feeling pride

Commonly confused: prideful or proud?

prideful vs proud

Proud can be a compliment, as in proud of your work, while prideful is nearly always a criticism.

Practice

Tom is so ___ that he would rather fail than admit he needs help.

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