high-hat 1 of 3

adjective

ˈhī-ˈhat How to pronounce high-hat (audio)
Definition of high-hatnext
1
as in aristocratic
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior at the wedding reception the bride's high-hat relatives did their considerable best to ignore us

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude several high-hat society types arrived after we did, but they got seated first

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

high-hat

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to disdain
to show contempt for one presidential candidate presents himself as an outsider who has long been high-hatted by the Beltway elite

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely was high-hatted by an old college friend who's now a power player on Wall Street

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high hat

3 of 3

noun

as in hard hat

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Example 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 high-hat
Adjective
The sand crackling against the screen door became a high-hat drum. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 Over the last few years, a bevy of high-hat hotels have begun competing for the Big Apple’s best guests. — Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025 The bass, high-hat, guitar, and vocals all remain distinct in this busy mix and benefit from strong detail when the track fully kicks in. — PCMAG, 10 July 2024
Noun
Listen to Pete’s old s—t, it was formulated, the high hats, the horn. — Angel Diaz, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025 Instead of high hats, use wall washers, which bounce light off the walls and space. — Adam Shell, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025 Carter Beauford, perhaps the most unheralded drummer in music, busied himself with syncopated patterns and dizzying high hat on the song. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024 Deja stifled a yawn and cranked up her music; the warring bass and high hat thrummed in her chest and kept her mostly awake. — Brittany N. Williams, NOLA.com, 26 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-hat
  1. aristocratic
  2. arrogant
  3. disdain
  4. isolate
  5. hard hat
  6. disrespect
  7. stiff
  8. top hat
Adjective
  • Taylor, who reportedly bought his aristocratic title on the internet, was jailed for three years for selling a fake painting by the British artist Lowry through auction house Bonhams.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Similarly, after the traumas of the Civil War and Reconstruction, some Southern writers emphasized aberrant behavior to undercut the aristocratic whitewash of gentility and custom.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of aristocratic
Adjective
  • Steve Buscemi as Harry’s regular fence; Tatiana Maslany as his estranged daughter; and Will Price as the arrogant, heat-packing scion of a Manhattan crime family also star.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Ever-sensible Elinor, who never asks for much, has already met, and fallen for, Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), Fanny’s brother, as kind and modest as Fanny is arrogant.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Verb
  • As of Sunday, Morin was one month into the suspension handed down by the state Supreme Court that disdained the opinion of professional discipline case referee, Judge Paul Anthony Damico.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Scrutiny of Flock and other surveillance providers was largely bipartisan at the hearing, as did disdain for the company leaders not appearing.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of disdain
Verb
  • In 1894 French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin isolated the plague bacterium and connected rat infestations to the disease.
    — Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Yet future Israeli leaders may not be overly concerned about that problem, convinced that Israel, with its military might and technological edge, has too much to offer potential partners to be ignored or isolated.
    — Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of isolate
Noun
  • When teams used to do this to Denver coach Mike Shanahan, Terrell Davis put on his hard hat, grabbed his lunch pail and went to work.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Sophie Cunningham put on her big girl pants and hard hat, and ventured into Canada for the first time in her life Tuesday night.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of hard hat
Verb
  • Schofield said the Sussexes can't control how the palace will react, particularly if people within the palace believe the couple's plans disrespect the late queen.
    — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • To Cardenas, and other members of her community, the mural disrespected both Vietnamese and Filipino cultures.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of disrespect
Verb
  • Primitive feathers O’Connor said some of the feathers looked highly similar to those present today in modern birds, with a central spine having a square cross section that would have helped make the feather stiff yet lightweight.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But, no, the Kittrells attempted to stiff their creditors entirely by way of their Children's Trust.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of stiff
Noun
  • With his top hat, black tails, and giant oversized head, Wake Forest University’s Demon Deacon has been called everything from hilarious to terrifying.
    — Katie Riley, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Their final accents came via layers of beaded and pearl necklaces, shiny black loafers, and a black top hat.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of top hat

Browse Nearby Words

high-handedness
high-hat
high hat
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Cite this Entry

“High-hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-hat. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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