arrogance

noun

ar·​ro·​gance ˈer-ə-gən(t)s How to pronounce arrogance (audio)
ˈa-rə-
: an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions

Examples of arrogance in a Sentence

He was like a movie star at his high school reunion, muting his arrogance and trying to be a regular guy for old times' sake. He seemed to genuinely appreciate the honor. Carlo Rotella, New York Times Sports Magazine, June 2008
This kind of official arrogance is not new, of course, although it is perhaps more common in dictatorships than in democracies. Ian Buruma, New York Times Book Review, 17 Sept. 2006
Arrogance is, at once, what an athlete most needs and what fans least want to see. Dan Le Batard, ESPN, 15 Mar. 2004
A British expat who could have stepped out of a Graham Greene plot, Twyman makes an improbable Jamaican hero. His self-assurance borders on arrogance, particularly when something is not done precisely the way he would do it himself. Barry Estabrook, Gourmet, July 2003
Her arrogance has earned her a lot of enemies. We were shocked by the arrogance of his comments.
Recent Examples on the Web Which is why Cronin used the result Saturday, as well as the days leading up to it, to explain the invisible line that separates confidence from arrogance. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Such a trait is perhaps best demonstrated by Arsenal’s formidable defensive duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, who both possess a healthy arrogance and are comfortable imposing themselves on the opposition. Ben Church, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 Such reports confirmed that Israel’s intelligence system had rigid assumptions of Hamas behavior, overlaid with a racial arrogance that considered Palestinians incapable of such a large-scale operation. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Jan. 2024 But even those progressives didn’t feel much sorrow when Tory was convicted because of his conduct and arrogance throughout the leadup to the trial. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 But in Britain, expressions of self-confidence are often interpreted as arrogance, while self-effacement comes off as endearing and down-to-earth. Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 15 Feb. 2024 As Mercury and Jupiter clash, arrogance can be your undoing. USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024 Today, the United States runs the risk of being sucked into a broader conflict due in large part due to the arrogance of the executive branch and the irresponsibility of Congress. The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2024 His voice conveyed both the youthful arrogance of the original 1973 recording of the track and the life experience of nearly 50 years of performing. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arrogance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English arrogaunce, errogaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French arrogance, arrogaunce, borrowed from Latin arrogantia, noun derivative of arrogant-, arrogans "insolent, overbearing, arrogant"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arrogance was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near arrogance

Cite this Entry

“Arrogance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrogance. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

arrogance

noun
ar·​ro·​gance ˈar-ə-gən(t)s How to pronounce arrogance (audio)
: a sense of one's own importance that shows itself in a proud and insulting way

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