variants
also hifalutin
1
as in rhetoric
full of fine words and fancy expressions
his highfalutin paean to the working class failed to win over a crowd that wanted to hear down-to-earth proposals for economic relief
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
her highfalutin relatives from New York made the snide remark that her little house "has that lived-in look"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in superior
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
refused to be intimidated by the highfalutin manner of the sales staff in the fashionable boutique
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in smug
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
"fine Southern cuisine" sounds a bit highfalutin for a barbecue shack
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of highfalutin
This sounds so highfalutin, but whatever.
—
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Newsom, for all his highfalutin rhetoric about championing all Californians, just can’t quit the gentry and the insiders who have made his career.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
The Corbet profile recently published in the New Yorker mentioned his highfalutin reading list, which includes László Krasznahorkai (the source of Béla Tarr’s Werckmeister Harmonies) and Oswald Spengler — taste that runs toward the dystopian and melancholic.
—Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Newsom, for all his highfalutin rhetoric about championing all Californians, just can’t quit the gentry and the insiders who have made his career.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
The Corbet profile recently published in the New Yorker mentioned his highfalutin reading list, which includes László Krasznahorkai (the source of Béla Tarr’s Werckmeister Harmonies) and Oswald Spengler — taste that runs toward the dystopian and melancholic.
—Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for highfalutin
Adjective
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That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2025
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Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In contrast, the Pixel 9, priced at $799, offers a brighter display, 12GB RAM, a superior 50MP main camera, and additional features like faster charging and Wi-Fi 7 support.—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Behind them are two more NL teams — the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets — as the NL proves to be by far the superior league.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The washers contain a large haul of cocaine, which Mia and Charlie are tasked with delivering to the Chinatown hangout of smug young local Triad boss Tsui Fong (Jeremy Ang Jones) to square up a debt.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
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This brings me back to the siege of Jackson, which happens at the same time as Abby’s smug speechifying and Joel-torturing up at the lodge.—
Noel Murray,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Public media, because of the taxpayer subsidy, hits a rhetorical sweet spot for the president.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
29 Apr. 2025
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The 2024 Presidential campaign itself involved deafening, five-alarm rhetorical fires.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Three Key Lessons: Pareek’s Insights into Innovation Over the course of his career, Pareek has learned many important lessons.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Perhaps corner was a more important spot, but Starks is an elite player.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Christine Brown's 6 Children: All About Her Son and Daughters with Sister Wives Costar and Ex Kody Brown In December 2022, Christine shared a proud mom moment with her followers on Instagram, explaining how Truely stood up to a bully at school who was bothering her friend.—
Karli Bendlin,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Buckle up for this globe-trotting, CGI-heavy adventure that combines apocalyptic spectacle and family drama in the least pretentious way possible.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Jimbo, the most ridiculously pretentious egomaniac in rock-star history, seemed so excessive that no actor could play him, but Val Kilmer was up to the task.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/highfalutin. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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