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
Relevance
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"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of highfalutin
Its story clearly spoke to the widest swath of voters, even if many pundits predicted that the tonier, more highfalutin adult drama Conclave would emerge as a consensus winner.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
There was nothing highfalutin or fake about her.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2025
In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
This sounds so highfalutin, but whatever.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
There was nothing highfalutin or fake about her.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2025
In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
This sounds so highfalutin, but whatever.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for highfalutin
Adjective
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In addition to Sandler, the 2025 film also sees the return of several familiar faces, including Julie Bowen as Happy’s love interest, Virginia Venit; Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, Happy’s arrogant nemesis; and Ben Stiller as Hal L., the orderly from Happy’s grandmother’s nursing home.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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Christopher McDonald plays Happy’s comically villainous, arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, maestro of the finger guns.—
Skyler Trepel,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The Chicago Cubs have been passed up by the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Central lead, and that's due to the Brewers' superior pitching staff.—
Hunter Mulholland,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks provided superior returns with lower risk compared to the benchmark index; a smoother journey, as evidenced in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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And no scripture condones the smug enjoyment of it.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
30 July 2025
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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,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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That brief respite in Trump’s relentless rhetorical war on his favorite economic foil will almost certainly expire Wednesday afternoon – possibly while Powell is still fielding questions from reporters after the Fed announces its interest rate decision.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
30 July 2025
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The phrase itself is more of a rhetorical flourish than a description of how Beijing sees Moscow.—
Da Wei,
Foreign Affairs,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Given how coveted full-backs are, this is an important move from Barca to tie down one of their most consistent performers.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
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Here are some important factors to consider: Availability: Not all providers cover every part of Austin.—
Kara McGinley,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Bobby Lee is proud of Borderlands, but his experience at the movie's premiere wasn't entirely pleasant.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
26 July 2025
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Pursuing a relationship in order to feel proud of oneself, more competent or even validated.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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Despite the cool design vibe here, there’s nothing pretentious about Ammos Hotel, which is ultimately a family hotel with a friendly atmosphere– evidenced by its most beloved employee: a Boston Terrier named Jonny.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
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Even when Season Three felt meandering or pretentious, the vibe set by the music and the production design never faltered.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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In the video, the cavalier King Charles left people in stitches with her dramatic howls.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/highfalutin. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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