conceit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "conceit" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe an exaggerated opinion of one's own abilities, appearance, or worth. For example: "John was full of conceit, always bragging about how great he was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a fairly uncommon conceit in television, although I know it has a significant place in theater.

The Guardian

She is the perfect winner of American Idol, embodying the show's diamond-in-the-rough conceit.

The Guardian - Music

There's a conceit that Scotland is more welcoming.

The Guardian

Being 'positive' is a problematically simplistic conceit; but then, so is its opposite.

The Guardian

The election campaign is into its first week, not quite out of the phoney war stage yet, with Thursday's seven-way TV debate promising to be an atonal chorus of evasion and conceit.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was immensely effective and played very well indeed in Labour-voting neighbourhoods, largely because it triggered a gut anti-Tory reaction and played to Yes Scotland's conceit that Scots were more socially liberal than England.

The Guardian

With its slightly starry cast, simplistic conceit and a comedic dynamic built mainly on one-liners, it seemed more than a little generic.

The Guardian - Film

To the outsider's eye these complaints tend to display a high degree of pettiness and conceit, as with the applicant for a medical job with the commission who argued that his non-hiring was explicable only by a prejudice on the commission's part against Swedish medical qualifications.

The Economist

History, you might say, is coming to a happy end.Eastern Europe was mostly a conceit of the cold war, based on Stalin's lumping together of everything to the east of the Iron Curtain.

The Economist

The basic conceit of being an entrepreneur having an idea and moving that idea forward is useful whether you work for yourself or within a company".

The Economist

By the end the whizzkid is scrounging tips as a supermarket janitor, a victim either of self-doubt or of fear about where his strange powers might lead.The character and conceit might together have made a good novella.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conceit" carefully when referring to personal characteristics, as it often carries a negative connotation of excessive pride or arrogance. Consider alternative words like 'confidence' if a positive attribute is intended.

Common error

Avoid mistaking "conceit", which often implies vanity or an elaborate metaphor, with "concept", which simply refers to a general idea or notion. Using them interchangeably can lead to misinterpretation of your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The word "conceit" functions primarily as a noun, denoting either an excessively high opinion of oneself or a clever, extended metaphor in literature. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its usage in both contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conceit" is a versatile word with two main meanings: excessive pride and an elaborate literary device. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used. Its usage spans from describing character flaws to analyzing literary works, primarily in news and formal contexts. While it can denote arrogance, it also serves to highlight the cleverness of extended metaphors. Be mindful of the negative implications when discussing personal attributes and ensure clarity in distinguishing it from similar terms like "concept".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vanity

Direct synonym referring to excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.

arrogance

Implies a sense of superiority and exaggerated self-importance.

hubris

Refers to excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to a downfall.

self-importance

Highlights the exaggerated belief in one's own significance or value.

self-admiration

Focuses on the act of admiring oneself, often excessively.

inflated ego

Emphasizes the exaggerated or unrealistic sense of self-worth.

smugness

Suggests an excessive sense of satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

complacency

Indicates a feeling of smug satisfaction with one's own abilities or situation.

pompousness

Refers to the quality of being irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important.

superiority complex

A psychological condition where one believes they are superior to others.

FAQs

How can I use "conceit" in a sentence?

You can use "conceit" to describe an overly high opinion of oneself, as in "His "conceit" was evident in his constant bragging." It can also refer to an elaborate metaphor, such as "The poem employed a striking "conceit" comparing love to a battlefield".

What are some synonyms for "conceit" when it implies vanity?

When "conceit" implies vanity or arrogance, you can use synonyms like "vanity", "arrogance", "hubris", or "self-importance".

What does "conceit" mean in literary terms?

In literature, a "conceit" is an extended metaphor or a surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects or ideas. It's often elaborate and controls a large section of a poem or the entire poem.

Is it appropriate to use "conceit" in formal writing?

Yes, "conceit" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when discussing literary techniques or analyzing character traits. However, be mindful of the negative connotations when using it to describe someone's personality. Consider the context to avoid unintended offense.