high-and-mighty
Acting above others
High-and-mighty describes someone who acts superior or arrogant, behaving as though they're above others: She's too high-and-mighty to eat at a diner.
The phrase often appears with get or act: Don't get all high-and-mighty with me.
It suggests pretension rather than genuine status—someone putting on airs they haven't earned.
Superior and dismissive manner
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- superiorHigher in rank
- snobbishCondescending toward perceived inferiors
- pompousAffectedly grand in manner
self-important · lordly · disdainful · patronizing · imperious · supercilious · stuck-up · holier-than-thou
Feigns virtue falsely
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- moralizingDelivering ethical lectures
judgmental · lecturing · finger-wagging · sermonizing · priggish · smug · pontificating · holier-than-thou
Having rightful claim
- eliteSuperior select group
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- aristocraticOf hereditary nobility
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
domineering · bossy · dictatorial · tyrannical · overlord · throne · ivory-tower · untouchable
condescending
Superior and dismissive manner
pompous · self-important · lordly · disdainful · patronizing · imperious · supercilious · stuck-up · holier-than-thou · nose-in-the-air
hypocrite
Feigns virtue falsely
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
moralizing · judgmental · lecturing · finger-wagging · sermonizing · priggish · smug · pontificating · holier-than-thou · pious
entitled
Having rightful claim
- eliteSuperior select group
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- aristocraticOf hereditary nobility
authoritarian · domineering · bossy · dictatorial · tyrannical · overlord · throne · ivory-tower · untouchable · establishment
high-and-mightyhumble
Unassuming about oneself
modest · meek · self-effacing · unassuming · lowly
high-and-mightyapproachable
Easy to engage with
friendly · warm · personable · easy-going · accessible
high-and-mightyunpretentious
Lacking false superiority
common · plain · ordinary · salt-of-the-earth · blue-collar
high, higher, highest, highly, highness, mighty, mightier, mightiest, mightily