noun

conceit

/kənˈsiːt/ · say it: kuhn·SEET

an elaborate, extended metaphor

In Literary English

In more detail

1. (noun) an excessive pride in your own appearance, abilities, or achievements

2. (noun) a clever but sometimes unusual comparison between two different things, used in poetry or literature

Examples

1. His conceit prevented him from accepting help from others.
2. The poet used an extended conceit comparing love to a journey.

How to use conceit

As a personality trait, conceit describes excessive self-admiration and is generally pejorative; it emphasizes an inflated sense of one's own worth. In literary analysis, a conceit refers to a witty or striking metaphorical device, often used in Renaissance poetry (especially metaphysical poets), and is neutral or positive in evaluation. The two senses are quite distinct in modern usage.

Common phrases

wounded conceit
stroke someone's conceit
in their conceit
a poetic conceit
a clever conceit

Synonyms

vanity · arrogance · pride · self-importance · egotism

Opposites

humility · modesty

Word family

conceited (adjective) · conceitedly (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse conceit (excessive pride) with concept (an idea or notion), or use 'conceited' to mean 'clever' when discussing literature, though in older literary contexts a 'conceit' is indeed clever by definition.

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