supercilious
11 synonyms and 1 antonym for supercilious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Behaving as though other people are inferior, in a haughty and dismissive way.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use supercilious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
supercilious smile
supercilious tone
supercilious manner
supercilious look
A formal, rather literary word used to criticise someone's manner.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from the Latin word superciliosus, meaning haughty.
Full origin of supercilious →Frequently asked questions
What does supercilious mean?
It describes someone who acts arrogantly superior and treats others with contemptuous indifference.
Is supercilious a compliment or an insult?
It is an insult. It criticises someone for being haughty and looking down on other people.
How do you use supercilious in a sentence?
You can use it to describe a person's expression, tone or manner, as in 'he gave a supercilious smile'.
