prideful
Prideful (adj) means Full of pride, especially in an excessive or boastful way. Example: “He gave a prideful smile as he described his son's achievements.”
How to use prideful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of pride — often used a bit critically, to suggest someone is too pleased with themselves.
Prideful usually carries a negative shade (arrogant, boastful), while proud can be either positive or negative depending on context.
Word forms
more prideful comparative, most prideful superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gave a _____ smile as he described his son's achievements.
Etymology
From Middle English pridefulle, built from pride plus the suffix -ful.
Rhymes for prideful
See all rhymes for prideful →Frequently asked questions
What does “prideful” mean?
The word “prideful” means full of pride, especially in an excessive or boastful way. In plain terms, full of pride — often used a bit critically, to suggest someone is too pleased with themselves.
How do you pronounce “prideful”?
“Prideful” is pronounced PRUH-ihd-fuhl (/ˈpɹʌɪdfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “prideful” in a sentence?
Here is “prideful” used in a sentence: “He gave a prideful smile as he described his son's achievements.”
What part of speech is “prideful”?
“Prideful” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prideful” come from?
The word “prideful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English pridefulle, built from pride plus the suffix -ful.