adjective

arrogant

/ˈærəɡənt/ · say it: AR·uh·guhnt

having an exaggerated sense of one's importance

In Personality & Character

In more detail

having or showing too much pride in yourself and not respecting other people's opinions or abilities

Examples

He was arrogant about his success and refused to listen to anyone else's ideas.

How to use arrogant

Arrogant describes someone who displays excessive self-confidence and contempt for others, typically in their manner of speaking or treating people. It carries a strongly negative judgment and is more commonly used than the related noun 'arrogance' in everyday speech. It often implies not just pride but also an active disrespect for others' viewpoints.

Common phrases

arrogant attitude
arrogant tone
arrogant behavior
arrogant dismissal
arrogant enough to
arrogantly assume

Synonyms

conceited · proud · haughty · pompous · self-important

Opposites

humble · modest · meek

Word family

arrogance (noun) · arrogantly (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse arrogant with simply 'confident' or 'proud,' but arrogant specifically implies excessive pride paired with disrespect for others, whereas confidence or justified pride can be appropriate.

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD