supercilious
Looking down snobbishly
Supercilious describes an attitude of disdainful superiority—looking down on others as beneath one's notice.
The word suggests raised eyebrows and cold dismissal: She gave him a supercilious glance and turned away.
A supercilious person conveys contempt through manner rather than direct insult, making the attitude feel especially cutting.
Affectedly grand in manner
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- loftyImpressively high or noble
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- lordlyNoble and condescending
high-handed · magisterial · overweening · vainglorious · peremptory · uppity · hoity-toity · nose-in-the-air
Showing open contempt
- disdainfulShowing open contempt
- derisiveExpressing contemptuous ridicule
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
- mockingScornfully imitating or ridiculing
disparaging · withering · scathing · sardonic · cynical · scoffing · jeering · contempt
Treating someone as inferior
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- pityingFeeling sorrow for another
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
gracious · indulgent · insufferable · smug · self-satisfied · knowing · charitable · magnanimous
Exaggerating one's own significance
- egotisticalExcessively self-centered
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
- cockyExcessively self-assured
presumptuous · overconfident · swaggering · brash · brazen · puffed-up · narcissistic · self-aggrandizing
One favoring the privileged
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- patricianHighborn Roman elite
- aristocraticOf hereditary nobility
- bourgeoisMiddle-class and conventional
exclusive · cliquish · insular · blue-blooded · genteel · refined · cultivated · posh
pompous
Affectedly grand in manner
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- loftyImpressively high or noble
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
lordly · high-handed · magisterial · overweening · vainglorious · peremptory · uppity · hoity-toity · nose-in-the-air · highfalutin
scornful
Showing open contempt
- disdainfulShowing open contempt
- derisiveExpressing contemptuous ridicule
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
mocking · disparaging · withering · scathing · sardonic · cynical · scoffing · jeering · contempt · disdain
patronizing
Treating someone as inferior
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- pityingFeeling sorrow for another
dismissive · gracious · indulgent · insufferable · smug · self-satisfied · knowing · charitable · magnanimous · deigning
self-important
Exaggerating one's own significance
- egotisticalExcessively self-centered
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
cocky · presumptuous · overconfident · swaggering · brash · brazen · puffed-up · narcissistic · self-aggrandizing · boastful
elitist
One favoring the privileged
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- patricianHighborn Roman elite
- aristocraticOf hereditary nobility
bourgeois · exclusive · cliquish · insular · blue-blooded · genteel · refined · cultivated · posh · tony
snub
Deliberate dismissive rejection
- brush-offAbrupt, dismissive rejection
- cold-shoulderIntentional social rejection
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
slight · disregard · ignore · pooh-pooh · discount · overlook · reject · spurn · askance · curt
- arrogancearrogant, conceited, pompous, vain, haughty
- condescendingpatronizing, disdainful, scornful, dismissive, belittling
- fancy wordsgrandiloquent, magniloquent, sesquipedalian, pulchritudinous, tintinnabulation
supercilioushumble
Unassuming about oneself
modest · unassuming · self-effacing · unpretentious · meek
superciliouswarm-hearted
Disposed toward compassion
warm · gracious · generous · kind · approachable
superciliousdeferential
Showing humble submission
submissive · obsequious · demure · unobtrusive · passive