Napoleon complex
noun
plural Napoleon complexes
: a domineering or aggressive attitude perceived as a form of overcompensation for being physically small or short
—not used technically
… short-fused assistant principals with Napoleon complexes.—
Robert Wilder
Robert WilderCall it a Napoleon complex or call it confidence, but the tiniest of dogs are usually the ones who take no crap.—Heather Barnett
Heather BarnettHe has a Napoleon complex, by virtue of being small and young in a job meant for the mighty and wise.—Spencer Kornhaber
Spencer KornhaberAllison Anders was not your typical five-foot, four-inch film school nerd with a Napoleon complex the size of Texas.—Veronica Chambers
Veronica ChambersExamples of Napoleon complex in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Blacktip Shark The everyman shark with a Napoleon complex.
—Erik Vance, New York Times, 26 July 2024
That is true of almost all of these men, though, with the exception of my favorite jungle gym, Jason, the only man in the group who actually knows what a Napoleon complex is.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 May 2024
Everyone’s familiar with the Napoleon complex—a syndrome wherein a man displays aggressive or domineering behavior to compensate for his short stature.
—Graham Techler, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2023
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Erik Vance, New York Times, 26 July 2024
That is true of almost all of these men, though, with the exception of my favorite jungle gym, Jason, the only man in the group who actually knows what a Napoleon complex is.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 May 2024
Everyone’s familiar with the Napoleon complex—a syndrome wherein a man displays aggressive or domineering behavior to compensate for his short stature.
—Graham Techler, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Napoleon complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Napoleon%20complex. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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