SUPERCILIOUSNESS Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

superciliousness

noun

Definition of superciliousness

as in arrogance

an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims can't bear the superciliousness of her cousin, who lives in New York City and thinks everybody in Tennessee is a hick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 superciliousness However, in the wrong hands, being silent can signal disdain and superciliousness. — Matteo Atti, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for superciliousness

Noun

McVay and Snead have effectively built a culture of arrogance.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
These fascinating, illuminating episodes raise the question of whether great fiction requires the kind of single-mindedness and even arrogance that McCarthy cultivated.

— New York Times, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogance

Noun

Tampa Bay used clear superiority in its starting rotation, bullpen and late-series offense to eliminate Cleveland.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026
If military superiority alone could end wars, then Afghanistan and Iraq would have been relatively easy American wins.

— Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of superiority

Browse Nearby Words

superciliously

superciliousness

supercluster

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of superciliousness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes