adj
prideful
PRUH-ihd-fuhl
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.”
adj
1
Full of pride, especially in an excessive or boastful way.
"He gave a prideful smile as he described his son's achievements."
"The team's prideful captain refused to admit any weakness."
"The man is ill-tempered, envious, and above all prideful."
— George Raymond Richard Martin, Catelyn [Stark] (2000)
How to use prideful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of pride — often used a bit critically, to suggest someone is too pleased with themselves.
Common mistake
Prideful usually carries a negative shade (arrogant, boastful), while proud can be either positive or negative depending on context.
Common pairings
a prideful smile
prideful of one's achievements
prideful boasting
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more prideful
- Superlative
- most prideful
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.
Synonyms
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jubilant
exulting
sniffy
haughty
swaggering
lordly
disdainful
exultant
supercilious
rejoicing
overbearing
imperious
Antonyms
Related words
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.
