self-importance
noun
self-im·por·tance
ˌself-im-ˈpȯr-tᵊn(t)s 
-tən(t)s
1
: an exaggerated estimate of one's own importance : self-conceit
2
: arrogant or pompous behavior
Examples of self-importance in a Sentence
the boxer's flamboyant self-importance often made for a colorful prefight press conference
her overbearing self-importance has given her a sense of entitlement
Recent Examples on the Web
Each one becomes a part of the fabric of Fashion Week, but their disparate problems are a far cry from the glitzy event’s self-importance.
—
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Season four course-corrected somewhat, but its hard embrace of a bleeding-heart sentimentality around found families and the power of food smacked of self-importance.
—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
25 June 2026
There’s also a broader cultural undercurrent shaping all of this—a down-to-earth atmosphere that resists hierarchy and self-importance.
—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
This population crisis feeds into a post-imperial syndrome, where the decline of empire and power status invokes a sense of loss of self-importance that gives rise to resentment and an unwavering commitment to retain great power status.
—
John Rennie Short,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Sonny was married for more than 40 years to his beloved Margo — who, as was often the case of the wives of famous/infamous men, knew exactly how and when to best burst his occasional balloon of self-importance and puffery.
—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
We’d sometimes get threatened, and that only inflated our self-importance.
—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Late-night show hosts now have an attitude of self-importance, congratulating themselves for their work.
—
Andrea Ruth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Audiences today crave brands that prioritize substance over self-importance, and complexity and contradiction can be the very foundation of authenticity and connection.
—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Season four course-corrected somewhat, but its hard embrace of a bleeding-heart sentimentality around found families and the power of food smacked of self-importance.
—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
25 June 2026
There’s also a broader cultural undercurrent shaping all of this—a down-to-earth atmosphere that resists hierarchy and self-importance.
—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
This population crisis feeds into a post-imperial syndrome, where the decline of empire and power status invokes a sense of loss of self-importance that gives rise to resentment and an unwavering commitment to retain great power status.
—
John Rennie Short,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Sonny was married for more than 40 years to his beloved Margo — who, as was often the case of the wives of famous/infamous men, knew exactly how and when to best burst his occasional balloon of self-importance and puffery.
—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
We’d sometimes get threatened, and that only inflated our self-importance.
—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Late-night show hosts now have an attitude of self-importance, congratulating themselves for their work.
—
Andrea Ruth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Audiences today crave brands that prioritize substance over self-importance, and complexity and contradiction can be the very foundation of authenticity and connection.
—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-importance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-importance. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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