arrogant
A-ruh-guhnt
Arrogant (adj) means having an inflated opinion of oneself, usually paired with contempt for others. Example: “The arrogant manager refused to take any feedback from his staff.”
adj
1
Having an inflated opinion of oneself, usually paired with contempt for others.
"Her arrogant attitude alienated the team."
"Transport Minister Marples, meanwhile, used arrogant rhetoric and showed his personal contempt for railways when confirming in Parliament that a third of the network was to be closed even before the survey results were known."
— Howard Johnston, Was Marples the real railway wrecker? (2023)
"He was too arrogant to admit his mistake."
"The arrogant manager refused to take any feedback from his staff."
"It seemed arrogant of him to skip the queue."
"It is arrogant to assume everyone shares your opinion without ever asking them."
How to use arrogant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of yourself, and dismissive of what other people think or need.
Common pairings
arrogant tone
come across as arrogant
arrogant and rude
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more arrogant
- Superlative
- most arrogant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ manager refused to take any feedback from his staff.
Etymology
From Latin arrogans, present participle of arrogare, "to claim for oneself" — from ad- ("to") + rogare ("to ask").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “arrogant” mean?
The word “arrogant” means having an inflated opinion of oneself, usually paired with contempt for others. In plain terms, full of yourself, and dismissive of what other people think or need.
How do you pronounce “arrogant”?
“Arrogant” is pronounced A-ruh-guhnt (/ˈæɹəɡənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “arrogant” in a sentence?
Here is “arrogant” used in a sentence: “The arrogant manager refused to take any feedback from his staff.”
What is the opposite of “arrogant”?
The opposite of “arrogant” — its antonyms — are humble, modest, servile and sycophantic.
What part of speech is “arrogant”?
“Arrogant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “arrogant” come from?
The word “arrogant” comes from Latin. From Latin arrogans, present participle of arrogare, "to claim for oneself" — from ad- ("to") + rogare ("to ask").
Is “arrogant” a common word?
“Arrogant” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between arrogant and confident?
Confidence is a positive belief in one's own abilities, while arrogant behaviour goes further by showing contempt or disregard for other people. Someone confident can still be humble, but an arrogant person typically looks down on others or dismisses their views.
Is calling someone arrogant an insult?
Yes, arrogant is almost always used negatively, describing a person whose inflated self-opinion comes across as disrespectful or dismissive. It is rarely, if ever, used as a compliment.
What is the difference between arrogant and proud?
Proud can be neutral or positive, describing satisfaction in an achievement, while arrogant specifically implies an exaggerated sense of superiority paired with contempt for others. A proud person can stay considerate of others; an arrogant one typically does not.
