self-importance

noun

ˌself-im-ˈpȯr-tᵊn(t)s How to pronounce self-importance (audio)
Definition of self-importancenext
1
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims the boxer's flamboyant self-importance often made for a colorful prefight press conference

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements her overbearing self-importance has given her a sense of entitlement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 self-importance There’s also a broader cultural undercurrent shaping all of this—a down-to-earth atmosphere that resists hierarchy and self-importance. — Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026 Sonny was married for more than 40 years to his beloved Margo — who, as was often the case of the wives of famous/infamous men, knew exactly how and when to best burst his occasional balloon of self-importance and puffery. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026 Audiences today crave brands that prioritize substance over self-importance, and complexity and contradiction can be the very foundation of authenticity and connection. — Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 This population crisis feeds into a post-imperial syndrome, where the decline of empire and power status invokes a sense of loss of self-importance that gives rise to resentment and an unwavering commitment to retain great power status. — John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-importance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-importance
  1. arrogance
  2. vanity
  3. superiority
  4. ego
  5. pride
Noun
  • Needless to say there was no second date, and, eventually though painfully, my own arrogance had some of its rough edges worn down.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
  • In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • The bathroom is nearby and contains a vanity sink, a walk-in shower, and an incinerating toilet – which literally turns waste into ash.
    — Adam Williams July 01, New Atlas, 1 July 2026
  • The hotel’s wellness focus extends to the bathrooms, which boast walk-in showers, claw-foot soaking tubs, and double-sink marble vanities embellished with ornate gilt mirrors.
    — Veronica M. Stoddart, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Definition of vanity
Noun
  • These early precedents in fictional brutality also weaken Thomson’s next point, about literature’s superiority.
    — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Part of the reason for this is the Dodgers have entered a boring-great stage of hegemony, in which their superiority over the rest of the league is so pronounced that there is little to discuss on a day-to-day basis.
    — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of superiority
Noun
  • Visitors would find artifacts such as the candlestand, where Washington chose humility over ego and began the peaceful transfer of power.
    — Lonnie G. Bunch III, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
  • The Aussie needed to have some amount of ego to achieve that confidence, something Wright didn’t have or realize.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of ego
Noun
  • The history of Kaskaskia is full of stories of resilience and stubborn pride, but also of the inevitability of nature.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Schlanger’s pride in his Jewishness forced Goldstein to reflect on her upbringing.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of pride

Browse Nearby Words

self-immolation
self-importance
self-important
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Cite this Entry

“Self-importance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-importance. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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