uppityness
Acting above station
Uppityness is the quality of behaving in ways that others perceive as presumptuous or above one's station.
The word carries historical baggage, particularly in American English, where *uppity* was frequently applied to Black people who didn't defer to white authority—making both the adjective and this noun form potentially offensive depending on context.
Contemporary usage sometimes reclaims or neutralizes the term: Her uppityness was really just confidence they weren't used to seeing.
Defying workplace authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- recalcitranceStubborn refusal to obey
obstinacy · contrariness · rebelliousness · impudence · impertinence · boldness · assertiveness · pushback
Exaggerated self-admiration
- egotismInflated sense of self-importance
- vanityExcessive pride in oneself
- pomposityExaggerated sense of importance
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
self-importance · overconfidence · presumption · hubris · snobbery · boastfulness · pride · self-satisfaction
Demeaning air of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- snobberyPretentious social superiority
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
dismissiveness · loftiness · overbearing · pompousness · hoity-toity · highfalutin · snooty · stuck-up
Disdainful disregard
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
belittlement · disparagement · snubbing · looking down on · dismissal · deprecation · disrespect · slighting
Seeking higher status
- aspirationalStriving toward ideals
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- presumptuousnessExcessive forwardness or boldness
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
climbing · pushiness · self-promotion · status-seeking · advancement · entitlement · pretension · assertiveness
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
recalcitrance · obstinacy · contrariness · rebelliousness · impudence · impertinence · boldness · assertiveness · pushback · talking back
conceit
Exaggerated self-admiration
- egotismInflated sense of self-importance
- vanityExcessive pride in oneself
- pomposityExaggerated sense of importance
smugness · self-importance · overconfidence · presumption · hubris · snobbery · boastfulness · pride · self-satisfaction · grandiosity
condescension
Demeaning air of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- snobberyPretentious social superiority
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
patronizing · dismissiveness · loftiness · overbearing · pompousness · hoity-toity · highfalutin · snooty · stuck-up · toffee-nosed
contempt
Disdainful disregard
condescension · belittlement · disparagement · snubbing · looking down on · dismissal · deprecation · disrespect · slighting · eye-rolling
social climbing
Seeking higher status
- aspirationalStriving toward ideals
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- presumptuousnessExcessive forwardness or boldness
overreaching · climbing · pushiness · self-promotion · status-seeking · advancement · entitlement · pretension · assertiveness
uppitynesssubmissiveness
Disposition to obey others
deference · obsequiousness · servility · meekness · subservience
uppitynesshumility
Freedom from arrogance
humbleness · modesty · self-deprecation · unassumingness · lowliness