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as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the haughty waiter smirked when I remarked that it was odd that a French restaurant didn't even have french fries on the menu

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective haughty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of haughty are arrogant, disdainful, insolent, lordly, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

In what contexts can arrogant take the place of haughty?

The words arrogant and haughty can be used in similar contexts, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When might disdainful be a better fit than haughty?

In some situations, the words disdainful and haughty are roughly equivalent. However, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When could insolent be used to replace haughty?

While the synonyms insolent and haughty are close in meaning, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

Where would lordly be a reasonable alternative to haughty?

While in some cases nearly identical to haughty, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

When would overbearing be a good substitute for haughty?

Although the words overbearing and haughty have much in common, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

When can proud be used instead of haughty?

The meanings of proud and haughty largely overlap; however, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When is supercilious a more appropriate choice than haughty?

The synonyms supercilious and haughty are sometimes interchangeable, but supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of haughty Ouray is a small place (population 898 as of the 2020 Census), lacking the daredevil architecture of hyper-modern homes moored on rocky cliffs that is a hallmark of other haughtier mountain towns. James Dziezynski, Outside Online, 5 Aug. 2024 As Miranda Priestly’s haughty assistant Emily in The Devil Wears Prada, Blunt cuts through the Runway magazine office like an icy stiletto (the blade, not the shoe). Sara Netzley, EW.com, 23 Sep. 2024 This is amusing stuff, well served by Coogan’s knack for haughty composure in the face of the absurd. Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Sep. 2024 Mahira Kakkar portrays Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester, with a haughty determination that turns desperate once Margaret asserts dominance in the court. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for haughty 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haughty
Adjective
  • Nobody wants to be around an arrogant or disrespectful individual, in the workplace or in day-to-day life.
    AllBusiness, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • So Far Trump in fact as played by Stan is a mix of charming and shy, troubled and insecure, arrogant and angry, a creative dealmaker with vision, narcissitic, cruel, self-serving, at times grief stricken.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The town is a bastion of support for Hezbollah and a proud source of its fighting men, whose identities are usually only revealed publicly in death.
    Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Clearly proud of such an achievement, Ferrari designed the 360’s engine lid to feature a pane of glass that allows the engine to constantly be on display.
    Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Sure, this is all meaningful information to most Star Wars fans, who know the Sith as the primary anti-Jedi order, disdainful of the Jedi rules about how and why to use the Force.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 June 2024
  • Greer’s disdainful, stuck-up lines ooze out of Kidman’s mouth.
    Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • French bulldogs, Boston terriers, cavalier King Charles spaniels and other brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds have become incredibly popular due to their unique appearance.
    Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
  • The 29-year-old can occasionally frustrate with his histrionics and cavalier playing style, but last season’s 4-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace was a chastening reminder of what the team can look like without him.
    Carl Anka, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
Adjective
  • The season’s final images of the now-President Grace Penn looking smug and Wyler looking panicked signal the power struggle to come.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Mars took a chilling photo of Carolyn Bryant, a thin, pale brunette with dark lipstick and sharp eyebrows, sitting cross-armed in the gallery, looking smug.
    Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • What starts out as a cordial and pleasant discussion quickly becomes a wildly intricate game that preys upon confusion and fear, as Mr. Reed shares a plethora of history and knowledge that conflicts with the young women’s prideful beliefs.
    Jeff Conway, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
  • The standout here is Aquaman, portrayed as a prideful lord of Atlantis that just wants to be liked.
    Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Haughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haughty. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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