haughty
Looking down condescendingly
Haughty describes someone who acts superior to others, displaying arrogant pride and disdain for those they consider beneath them.
The word suggests not just confidence but contemptuous dismissiveness: She gave him a haughty look and turned away.
A haughty manner often masks insecurity, though the word focuses on outward behavior rather than inner state.
Excessive self-importance
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
- loftyImpressively high or noble
uppity · snooty · nose-in-the-air · holier-than-thou · self-important · imperious · lordly · queenly
Excessively proud or futile
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- egotisticalExcessively self-centered
- narcissisticObsessed with one's image
- self-admiringFond of oneself
smug · self-satisfied · preening · boastful · swaggering · pompous · puffed-up · overweening
One favoring the privileged
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- cliquishExcluding those outside one's group
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- affectedArtificially contrived behavior
hoity-toity · highfalutin · snobbish · snobby · posh · refined · discriminating · selective
Arrogantly authoritative
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- bossyToo fond of directing others
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
commanding · peremptory · autocratic · dominating · masterful · tyrannical · controlling · bullying
Hostile dismissive feeling
- disdainScornful disregard
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
contemptuous · derisive · disparaging · belittling · mocking · scoffing · ridiculing · withering
Far away or aloof
- remoteDistant or controller
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
- unapproachableImpossible to access or befriend
- detachedApart or uninvolved
reserved · cool · removed · inaccessible · forbidding · unfriendly · cold · withdrawn
arrogance
Excessive self-importance
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
lofty · uppity · snooty · nose-in-the-air · holier-than-thou · self-important · imperious · lordly · queenly · regal
vain
Excessively proud or futile
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- egotisticalExcessively self-centered
- narcissisticObsessed with one's image
self-admiring · smug · self-satisfied · preening · boastful · swaggering · pompous · puffed-up · overweening · prideful
elitist
One favoring the privileged
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- cliquishExcluding those outside one's group
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
affected · hoity-toity · highfalutin · snobbish · snobby · posh · refined · discriminating · selective · choosy
imperious
Arrogantly authoritative
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- bossyToo fond of directing others
authoritarian · commanding · peremptory · autocratic · dominating · masterful · tyrannical · controlling · bullying · intimidating
scorn
Hostile dismissive feeling
dismissive · contemptuous · derisive · disparaging · belittling · mocking · scoffing · ridiculing · withering · cutting
distant
Far away or aloof
- remoteDistant or controller
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
- unapproachableImpossible to access or befriend
detached · reserved · cool · removed · inaccessible · forbidding · unfriendly · cold · withdrawn · disengaged
- arrogancearrogant, conceited, pompous, vain, egotistical
- dismissive behaviorssnub, scorn, ignore, disdain, dismissal
- egotismarrogant, conceited, egocentric, egomaniac, egotist
- SAT vocabularyaesthetic, ambiguous, benevolent, candid, concise
- snobberysnob, snobbery, snooty, elitism, snoot
- upper classaristocrat, nobles, baron, baroness, baronet
haughtyhumble
Unassuming about oneself
modest · unassuming · unpretentious · self-deprecating · lowly
haughtymeek
Humbly unassertive
deferential · submissive · humble · timid · shy