supercilious meaning

UK US /ˌsupɚˈsɪliəs/ 5 syllables

supercilious (adjective): having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy.

supercilious has 2 meanings in this dictionary.

supercilious as an adjective

  1. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
    • some economists are disdainful of their colleagues in other social disciplines
    • haughty aristocrats
    • his lordly manners were offensive
    • walked with a prideful swagger
    • very sniffy about breaches of etiquette
    • his mother eyed my clothes with a supercilious air
    • a more swaggering mood than usual

    Synonyms: disdainful, haughty, imperious, lordly, overbearing, prideful, sniffy, swaggering

    Similar: proud

    Related forms: superciliousness

  2. expressive of contempt
    • curled his lip in a supercilious smile
    • spoke in a sneering jeering manner
    • makes many a sharp comparison but never a mean or snide one

    Synonyms: sneering, snide

    Similar: uncomplimentary

    Related forms: superciliousness

How to pronounce supercilious

supercilious is pronounced /ˌsupɚˈsɪliəs/ in American English. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.

Words that rhyme with supercilious

Word lists: words starting with SU · words ending in US · 12-letter words

More about supercilious on Wikipedia.