haughty

adjective

ˈhȯ-tē How to pronounce haughty (audio)
Definition of haughtynext
1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the haughty waiter smirked when I remarked that it was odd that a French restaurant didn't even have french fries on the menu

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself the student reporter received a haughty letter in reply to his request for an interview with the governor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective haughty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of haughty are arrogant, disdainful, insolent, lordly, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

In what contexts can arrogant take the place of haughty?

The words arrogant and haughty can be used in similar contexts, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When might disdainful be a better fit than haughty?

In some situations, the words disdainful and haughty are roughly equivalent. However, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When could insolent be used to replace haughty?

While the synonyms insolent and haughty are close in meaning, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

Where would lordly be a reasonable alternative to haughty?

While in some cases nearly identical to haughty, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

When would overbearing be a good substitute for haughty?

Although the words overbearing and haughty have much in common, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

When can proud be used instead of haughty?

The meanings of proud and haughty largely overlap; however, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When is supercilious a more appropriate choice than haughty?

The synonyms supercilious and haughty are sometimes interchangeable, but supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of haughty Remember the times when United, with all their haughty ambitions, used to look down on the clunky Thursday-Sunday routine of Europe’s second-tier competition? —Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 19 May 2025 Widowed twice, Etheldreda is left to care for her own two children, her haughty stepdaughter, and a peregrine falcon. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 13 May 2025 Michelle DeYoung presides as the haughty mother, her blood-orange dress a streak of color on the monochrome stage. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025 When indifferent and haughty stylist Magno Stift falls ill ahead of the tributes’ big pre-games interview, a young Effie swoops in as makeshift stylist, bringing in clothes that belonged to her great-aunt and great-uncle. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for haughty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haughty
  1. arrogant
  2. proud
  3. disdainful
  4. cavalier
  5. smug
  6. prideful
Adjective
  • As the day goes on, Jim goes from a caricature of an arrogant male director to an oddly compelling picture of a pathetic man, moved by spite toward his ex-wife, Anita.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 July 2025
  • Actor Tyler Hilton played Chris Keller, a charming but arrogant musician, on four seasons of the teen soap.
    — Bryan West, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Pursuing a relationship in order to feel proud of oneself, more competent or even validated.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • But that policy can also backfire – in part because many regions, such as Marathi-speaking Maharashtra in the west – are staunchly proud of their local language.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 26 July 2025
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.
    — Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2017
  • Wise minds inside the Trump administration will hopefully choose to drop a suit first introduced during by a Biden administration reflexively disdainful of big.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of disdainful
Adjective
  • In the video, the cavalier King Charles left people in stitches with her dramatic howls.
    — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
  • In 2021, Yesha Yadav, of Vanderbilt Law School, identified structural fragilities in the market, caused by simple cavalier inattention: Why bother scrutinizing the safest thing out there?
    — Mary Childs, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Definition of cavalier
Adjective
  • For those still on Windows 10 who might be feeling rather smug at avoiding these Windows 11 issues, Windows Latest has just issued a new warning, given that its own recent updates are not faring any better.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
  • His reboot has the benefit of an actor, David Corenswet, who may not have a lot of colors to work with, but whose presence is infinitely easier to take and less of a huge pile of smug than Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel.
    — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
Definition of smug
Adjective
  • Wentworth needed to find some humility to temper his natural prideful streak.
    — Brandon Taylor, Time, 17 July 2025
  • The ability to recite an obscure Lloyd Banks verse earned you some prideful grins or, even better, earnest assistance with your performance.
    — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
Definition of prideful

Browse Nearby Words

haughtiness
haughty
haul
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“Haughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haughty. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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