pompousness
Excessive showy dignity
Pompousness is an inflated sense of one's own importance, displayed through grandiose speech or behavior.
It suggests someone taking themselves far too seriously: The pompousness of his acceptance speech made everyone cringe.
The word carries more contempt than related terms like dignity or formality—pompousness is dignity that has curdled into self-importance.
Excessive regard for oneself
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- conceitExaggerated self-admiration
- egotismInflated sense of self-importance
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
self-importance · vainglory · preening · self-absorption · self-satisfaction · complacency · pride · self-regard
Ostentatious display quality
- flamboyanceShowy, confident style
- pretentiousnessShowy self-importance
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
- theatricalityExaggerated, showy manner
flashiness · gaudiness · affectation · flourish · grandstanding · display · exhibitionism · pageantry
Disdainful sense of superiority
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
self-important · patronizing · high-handed · disdainful · contemptuous · snobbish · aloof · domineering
Pretentious hollow language
- magniloquenceBoastful, elevated language
- verbosityUnnecessary word excess
- pontificationOpinionated lengthy speech
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
oratory · bluster · windbaggery · turgidity · prolixity · wordiness · long-windedness · declamation
self-admiration
Excessive regard for oneself
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- conceitExaggerated self-admiration
- egotismInflated sense of self-importance
smugness · self-importance · vainglory · preening · self-absorption · self-satisfaction · complacency · pride · self-regard · dandyism
showiness
Ostentatious display quality
- flamboyanceShowy, confident style
- pretentiousnessShowy self-importance
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
theatricality · flashiness · gaudiness · affectation · flourish · grandstanding · display · exhibitionism · pageantry · peacockery
haughtiness
Disdainful sense of superiority
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
overbearing · self-important · patronizing · high-handed · disdainful · contemptuous · snobbish · aloof · domineering · presumptuous
bombast
Pretentious hollow language
- magniloquenceBoastful, elevated language
- verbosityUnnecessary word excess
- pontificationOpinionated lengthy speech
rhetoric · oratory · bluster · windbaggery · turgidity · prolixity · wordiness · long-windedness · declamation · speechifying
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- presumptuousnesspresumptuousness, impertinence, audacity, forwardness, boldness
pompousnesshumility
Freedom from arrogance
modesty · humbleness · unpretentiousness · self-effacement · unassumingness
pompousnessplainspokenness
Unadorned directness in speech
simplicity · directness · terseness · understatement · straightforwardness
pompousnessshyness
Tendency toward social timidity
diffidence · reserve · reservedness · bashfulness · timidity