pure arrogance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pure arrogance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an attitude or behavior that is characterized by excessive pride or self-importance. Example: "His refusal to listen to others' opinions was a clear display of pure arrogance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I think that's pure arrogance if that's what they do".

The New York Times

Steven's a single dad; Nick's a gym rat; Brace is pure arrogance; Jimmy is addicted to adrenaline; Vin is a newcomer with a lot to learn.

The New York Times - Arts

Any idea that we can destroy it is pure arrogance.

Vice

I don't know why they took the risk, whether it's pure arrogance or not, but I don't know why they went this far.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

What was hard to see, through the high-minded obituaries this week, was how sweet a friend he could be: without pretension or arrogance, a man of pure intellectual passion but without the pomposity or self-regard that afflicts the kind.

The New Yorker

What has at times felt like male arrogance has, in reality, been pure panic.

Huffington Post

When LeBron James, 6 feet 8 inches and 250 pounds of pure power, changes directions at full speed, skips and elevates for a dunk, the observer sees only charisma and grace, not arrogance or duplicity.

The New York Times - Sports

The arrogance.

The New Yorker

What arrogance.

The New York Times

Yes, arrogance.

The New York Times - Sports

Etonian arrogance?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pure arrogance" to strongly convey a sense of extreme self-importance or an overbearing sense of superiority. It's effective when you want to emphasize the unadulterated nature of someone's arrogance.

Common error

While "pure arrogance" is a strong descriptor, avoid overusing it. Constant use can make your writing sound repetitive or overly dramatic. Vary your vocabulary by using alternatives like "sheer conceit" or "unadulterated hubris" to maintain the reader's interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pure arrogance" functions as a noun phrase, where "pure" modifies the noun "arrogance". It intensifies the meaning of arrogance, emphasizing its unadulterated and complete nature. Ludwig confirms this by providing examples where the phrase is used to describe behavior characterized by excessive pride.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pure arrogance" is a noun phrase used to express strong disapproval of someone's behavior, highlighting an extreme and unadulterated form of arrogance. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare and primarily found in news and media contexts. Ludwig confirms that it describes an attitude of excessive pride. When writing, it's best to use this phrase judiciously to avoid sounding repetitive and explore semantically related phrases when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unadulterated hubris

Replaces "arrogance" with "hubris" to suggest excessive pride and self-confidence, often leading to a downfall, and "pure" with "unadulterated" to reinforce the idea of something not mixed or diluted with any different or extraneous elements.

sheer conceit

Substitutes "arrogance" with "conceit" to highlight excessive pride in oneself, and "pure" with "sheer" to emphasize the extent or degree of the feeling.

utter pomposity

Replaces "arrogance" with "pomposity" to stress self-importance and affected dignity, coupled with "utter" to emphasize the completeness of the characteristic.

complete haughtiness

Swaps "arrogance" with "haughtiness" to denote a disdainful superiority, using "complete" to amplify the degree of arrogance.

absolute presumptuousness

Replaces "arrogance" with "presumptuousness" to indicate behavior that exceeds the bounds of what is considered proper or appropriate, using "absolute" to intensify the degree of the characteristic.

unmitigated gall

Substitutes "arrogance" with "gall" to convey brazen and audacious behavior, using "unmitigated" to highlight the lack of any softening or excusing factors.

total self-importance

Replaces "arrogance" with "self-importance" to directly address the exaggerated sense of one's own value, using "total" for emphasis.

unashamed audacity

Swaps "arrogance" with "audacity" to focus on boldness and a willingness to take risks, adding "unashamed" to emphasize the lack of embarrassment or regret.

outright pretension

Replaces "arrogance" with "pretension" to denote an attempt to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed, using "outright" to strengthen the directness of the attribute.

simple overconfidence

Substitutes "arrogance" with "overconfidence" to highlight excessive belief in one's own abilities, using "simple" to soften the meaning slightly.

FAQs

How is "pure arrogance" different from simple arrogance?

"Pure arrogance" implies a complete and unadulterated form of arrogance, without any mitigating factors or other emotions mixed in. It suggests a more intense and pronounced display of self-importance than simply "arrogance".

What are some situations where it's appropriate to use the phrase "pure arrogance"?

The phrase is appropriate when describing behavior that demonstrates an extreme level of self-importance, such as a leader who refuses to listen to advice or someone who consistently dismisses others' opinions without consideration. You can also consider alternatives such as "unmitigated gall".

Can "pure arrogance" be used in a positive context?

Generally, "pure arrogance" carries a negative connotation, describing an undesirable trait. It is rarely, if ever, used in a positive or complimentary way. It is most often associated with negative qualities such as "utter pomposity".

What are some other ways to describe someone who exhibits "pure arrogance"?

Besides using the phrase "pure arrogance", you might describe someone as haughty, presumptuous, conceited, or pompous. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Alternatives include "complete haughtiness" or "absolute presumptuousness".