1
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
offended by the pompousness of the minor official
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
the pompousness of the self-made billionaire was evident in the gaudy mansion he built for himself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pompousness
Any claim for Swift’s genius should reckon with her lapses into imprecision and pompousness.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pompousness
Noun
-
More accurately, these failings are arrogance and incompetence.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Listen to Martyr Khamenei's words on why Islamic governments and nations must stand united and fight the US arrogance in the region.—
Steven Stalinsky,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Xiarhos says this time around feels different because of a special new Massachusetts vanity license plate that benefits K-9s and their caretakers.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Accessories include vanity bags, bowling bags and thong sandals.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For years, the Red Bull driver was the benchmark – often cruising through races with rivals unable to challenge his superiority.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
-
America has gone to war many times with the hubris of superiority.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Drop your ego, keep the accountability, and focus on improvement.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In a curiosity divested of ego.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kendra, for Joseph, for the whole family, wake up and repent of their pride, their feeling of the world is against them, get things right in their family.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
If festive pride persists, it is no longer connected to a country, empire, culture, or race, but the unique traditions of individual municipalities, pitted against one another in fierce but friendly, sportsmanlike rivalries.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their attitude, their smugness was palpable.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Just as in real life when a too-good singer gets the mic at karaoke, the scene has a certain smugness.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pompousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pompousness. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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