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 Known for his suave leading roles, Jourdan depicts vampirism as a mark of haughty aristocracy rather than an outright curse. —Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 Georgina Castle is haughty and hilarious as Regina George, and Grace Mouat as Karen Smith has The Savoy Theatre audience in stitches with some hilarious lines and songs, while Elèna Gyasi plays Gretchen as a needy ‘pick me’ friend. —Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 The expansive story of a Hungarian architect and his haughty patron required Corbet and team to shoot in the marble quarries of northern Tuscany — where rockslides constantly shift the landscape. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 19 Dec. 2024 But Rosie is no imperial-phase victory lap from a haughty A-lister. —Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024 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
  • Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • And the villains, of course, exuding every nastily relatable emotion; the stepmothers and sorceresses are vain, arrogant, dismissive, lonely, rude, and outrageous.
    — Darren Franich, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Mizrahi - What was the proudest moment of your career?
    — Isaac Mizrahi, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • Most Democrats and independents — 82% and 54%, respectively — said Trump was disdainful to Zelenskyy, while just 19% of Republicans thought the same.
    — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of disdainful
Adjective
  • Colossal’s cavalier plans to use captive elephants as surrogates for mammoth calves illustrate an old problem in modern wildlife conservation: indifference towards individual animal suffering.
    — Nitin Sekar, ArsTechnica, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Among some Republicans, there is also an element of trepidation about the political impact of Musk’s cavalier approach.
    — Niall Stanage, The Hill, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of cavalier
Adjective
  • But my in-laws seemed not to catch this smug look of his, and when my mother-in-law excused herself to go to the bathroom, my father-in-law took the opportunity to go over to his desk and take out one of his special blue envelopes.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 2 Apr. 2025
  • But those smug computers obviously haven’t seen a shirtless Illini coach Brad Underwood and his Super Soaker squirt gun.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of smug
Adjective
  • This is a prideful team that knows it was dealt a bad hand this year.
    — Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the more prideful teams in the NBA.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of prideful

Browse Nearby Words

haughtiness
haughty
haul
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Cite this Entry

“Haughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haughty. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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