arrogant

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "arrogant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who behaves in a way that conveys an excessive sense of self-importance. For example: "He behaved arrogantly towards his peers, believing he was entitled to special privileges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To try to close down that debate prematurely is both arrogant and plain wrong".

The Guardian

It's arrogant really, it's not fair, but I've covered my back by putting all this bad press on the posters".

The Guardian

Their goals were less arrogant: to increase cultural access for Montrealers, and to include culture as part of the solution to any civic problems.

The Guardian

Clinton's apology echoed a reflection – racist and arrogant as it was – in my grandfather's letters: "The natives work with delightful laziness under their enormous hats and sparse beards.

The Guardian - Opinion

My own strong reaction to the novel stemmed from Austen's depiction of society, a world of conspicuous consumption (Sir Walter Elliot cannot stand the idea of retrenching when he mismanages his finances and prefers to leave his house rather than be seen with a footman or a picture less) and his arrogant, good-looking daughter Elizabeth can't be seen without all the props, either.

The Guardian - Books

Immediately, he was plastered over the papers, painted as an arrogant and nihilistic street hood - another symbol of the crisis in Britain's black community.

The Guardian

He is confident rather than arrogant, blunt, and an excitable talker, tumbling over words in his North Yorkshire burr.

The Guardian - Music

Watson, who signed from Wigan in January, said: "I am not being arrogant but we have the players to win big games.

The Guardian - Sport

Amid it all, the CEO of the biggest oil company in the world, Exxon, gave what may go down in the annals as the most poorly timed – not to mention, arrogant – speech in the firm's history: Rex Tillerson, speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations, admitted what his company spent many years denying, that humans were heating the planet.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The Germans will be confident, complacent and maybe arrogant," said McLean before the second leg.

The Guardian - Sport

The Sun refers to Sturgeon as an arrogant leader whose chief motive is to 'lock the Tories out' of power" regardless of whether most voters in England want the Tories in government.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "arrogant" to describe behavior or attitudes that demonstrate an excessive belief in one's own superiority. Be specific in describing the actions that make someone appear "arrogant".

Common error

Avoid using "arrogant" when "confident" is more appropriate. Confidence reflects self-assurance, while arrogance implies a disrespectful disregard for others.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "arrogant" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe someone or something exhibiting excessive pride and a sense of superiority. Ludwig examples show it modifying terms like "leader", "public schoolboy", "attitude" etc. According to Ludwig AI, the word "arrogant" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "arrogant" is an adjective used to describe someone with an excessive sense of self-importance and a disrespectful attitude towards others. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, with most examples found in news and media. When writing, ensure that you are not confusing confidence with arrogance. As shown in the Ludwig examples, common alternatives include "conceited", "haughty", and "pompous". Use "arrogant" to effectively critique behavior that demonstrates a belief in one's own superiority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conceited

Focuses on an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

haughty

Implies a disdainful superiority over others.

pompous

Suggests an ostentatious display of self-importance.

supercilious

Conveys a feeling of looking down on others.

imperious

Implies a commanding and domineering attitude.

presumptuous

Suggests overstepping boundaries due to a sense of entitlement.

overbearing

Emphasizes the act of dominating others through arrogance.

self-important

Highlights an inflated sense of one's own significance.

egotistical

Focuses on excessive self-centeredness.

smug

Implies offensive self-satisfaction.

FAQs

How to use "arrogant" in a sentence?

You can use "arrogant" to describe someone's behavior or attitude. For example, "His "arrogant attitude" made it difficult to work with him" or "She was perceived as "arrogant and condescending" by her colleagues".

What can I say instead of "arrogant"?

You can use alternatives like "conceited", "haughty", or "pompous" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "arrogant behavior" or "arrogantly behavior"?

"Arrogant behavior" is correct. "Arrogant" is an adjective, which modifies the noun "behavior". "Arrogantly" is an adverb and would be used to modify a verb (e.g., "He behaved arrogantly").

What's the difference between "arrogant" and "confident"?

"Arrogant" implies an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a disregard for others, while "confident" suggests a healthy self-assurance without necessarily demeaning others.