1
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
prideful intellectuals long considered rock music unworthy of serious study
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
at the wedding the prideful snobs ignored their poor relations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in triumphant
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph
flashed a prideful smile as she received her college diploma
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prideful
The former Iranian diplomat Hossein Mousavian once scolded Americans for failing to realize that his people are prideful and vain, and that negotiations meant to humiliate and insult them won’t get far.
—
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
After a scoreless first period, the defending Olympic gold medalists, too prideful to roll over, got on the scoreboard first.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
When Harper lays out the fund’s findings about Tender in an explosive speech at a financial conference, the camera pans to a prideful Eric, beaming and nearly paternal in his freudenfreude.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2026
Even though the Lions went to Chicago already eliminated from the postseason, Campbell came away with confirmation that the franchise has prideful players.
—CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prideful
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
After a scoreless first period, the defending Olympic gold medalists, too prideful to roll over, got on the scoreboard first.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
When Harper lays out the fund’s findings about Tender in an explosive speech at a financial conference, the camera pans to a prideful Eric, beaming and nearly paternal in his freudenfreude.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2026
Even though the Lions went to Chicago already eliminated from the postseason, Campbell came away with confirmation that the franchise has prideful players.
—CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prideful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prideful
Adjective
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Subsequent photos showed the proud parents smiling in the audience as their daughter walked across the stage to collect her degree, Zahra alongside her friends in their graduation regalia and a glimpse at a family celebration.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Paul McCartney is proud of the impact his music has on people.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Another new thought, presented with the triumphant tone of someone comfortable rooting around in her own thoughts having found le mot juste.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
18 May 2026
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In this triumphant tour de force, Crain and a group of fertility patients reckon with the threats to their family future, unearthing hope from an unsettled legal landscape.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The tricky part of being a celebrity like Firstman on the internet is that some people can conflate your comedic persona (which is maybe a little arrogant, a little colorful) with your real identity.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
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Hunter is stubborn, arrogant and gifted enough to play for the Briar hockey team, yet refuses to for reasons the show has yet to reveal.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Avoid Burying Praise in Negatives To avoid making children too conceited, parents might bury praise in the midst of negatives.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Yet, that’s no longer the bar for an organization that would’ve been ecstatic with such success a decade ago.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
19 May 2026
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In the comments on Facebook, fans were ecstatic about the flavor's comeback.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as childhood pals turned hot and bothered frenemies having quite the torrid love affair as adults in a sumptuous and quite haughty bad romance.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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As herself — well, a haughty, no-nonsense version of herself who evidently has beef with Streep's Runway editor-in-chief — Gaga faces off with the Oscar winner just before the Italian fashion show performance.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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The brand requested Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts to stop using the name, which appears to have been in vain.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
18 May 2026
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Jim must learn to accept a skinny femme like Lucien, while Lucien learns the valuable lesson that Instagram hotness is sometimes attached to a vain, rotten personality.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prideful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prideful. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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