as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a self-important businessman who believed his schedule mattered more than anyone else's
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-important
Looking elegant as ever, Huppert appears with script in hand, half-reading, half-reciting a long, self-important monologue, written by Rozek.
—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2026
And women who foreground themselves in any capacity are often perceived to be self-important drama queens, or narcissists.
—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
Jeffrey Tambor Known for playing the pompous, self-important mayor of Whoville, Jeffery Tambor also has an esteemed career across television and film.
—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Not to throw shade, but Aries can be self-important, similarly to how Collins deals with his relationship to others.
—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-important
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2026
And women who foreground themselves in any capacity are often perceived to be self-important drama queens, or narcissists.
—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
Jeffrey Tambor Known for playing the pompous, self-important mayor of Whoville, Jeffery Tambor also has an esteemed career across television and film.
—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Not to throw shade, but Aries can be self-important, similarly to how Collins deals with his relationship to others.
—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-important
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-important
Adjective
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Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.
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Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.
Adjective
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West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
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Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
Adjective
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Swift will either ignore the noise as usual, or smile at the absurdity as a secure, proud childless cat lady.
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Looking back, Fox is proud to be part of such a perennial classic.
Adjective
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Usually, their appeals are in vain, with the Norwegian flagged offside just five times last season, fewer than any other Premier League forward who played at least 900 minutes.
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After booking commercials and minor screen roles during the ’50s and ’60s, he was cast as the vain but rather dim TV news anchor Ted Baxter in 1970.
Adjective
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Claire’s elective death therefore remains a problematic choice for some viewers, an act of vainglorious selfishness from a woman who was never terribly nice to begin with.
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All but the most vainglorious architects imagine that their buildings will change in some small way after completion.
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.
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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.
Cite this Entry
“Self-important.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-important. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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