1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
the pompous waiter served us in the manner of a person doing some poor soul a great favor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a pompous piano teacher who thought that the music world was lucky to have her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pretentious
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
a pompous gambling casino decorated to look like a palace in ancient Rome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pompous
Against the devoted coalition of evangelical Christians, neocons, pompous billionaires and MAGA Republicans who now dominate the other side of the aisle, this prevaricating has failed to muster enthusiasm for the Democratic Party or much of the industry’s own product.
—
Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Do Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones play real people in 'The Brutalist?’
The film kicks into high gear with the introduction of Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), a pompous patriarch and industrialist who commissions Tóth to design an elaborate community center.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
American Primeval is likely to earn the ire of Mormons and Native American advocacy groups alike (the U.S. military is presented as pompous and ineffective, but somewhat hygienic).
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The friend, who lived across the street, was the daughter of a Lutheran minister, who our father thought was a pompous and ridiculous person.
—Caitlin Flanagan, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pompous
Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Do Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones play real people in 'The Brutalist?’
The film kicks into high gear with the introduction of Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), a pompous patriarch and industrialist who commissions Tóth to design an elaborate community center.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
American Primeval is likely to earn the ire of Mormons and Native American advocacy groups alike (the U.S. military is presented as pompous and ineffective, but somewhat hygienic).
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The friend, who lived across the street, was the daughter of a Lutheran minister, who our father thought was a pompous and ridiculous person.
—Caitlin Flanagan, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pompous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pompous
Adjective
-
The actor has one daughter with ex-wife Melanie Griffith and has been dating his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel since 2014. 05 of 09 John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad The actor behind the arrogant Lord Farquaad boasts an impressive career that began decades before Shrek came out in 2001.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Many members of its board appeared arrogant in the face of questions from the prosecutor or one of the lawyers.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
While the Duttons are just barely scraping by, the smug evil-doer is enjoying a warm bath in his mansion.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Most of your editorials, John Brummett, Rex Nelson, and John Deering, are blatant Trump haters, and their smug, condescending echo-chamber mindsets are constantly denigrating, mocking, and disrespecting at least 64 percent of your potential readers.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In the cool interiors of this chic Parisian address though, savouring an aged Armagnac after lunch or dinner is not a pretentious throwback, but a gastronomic pleasure.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The restaurant is slightly more elevated than your classic casual spot but is far from pretentious.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
So for him, super proud of him and for him first and foremost.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacramento Bee,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Angie Stone was proud to be an Honorary Member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Such a grandiose vision requires numerous trips between Earth and other worlds, driving the desire for reusability.—
Eric Mack,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
-
No wonder the new manager wants such a grandiose pay package.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s no egotistical rock star bullsh**t going on here.—
Quentin Thane Singer,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
-
This was my chance to not be an actor, not have that stink of being an actor, that egotistical, show-off, controlling, making choices, being clever part of being an actor.—
Chris Vognar,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Cyrus’s early solo-music career was marked by chaos in both persona and output (remember Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz?); her style oscillated with an ostentatious lack of taste, and her music varied wildly between genres.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The question is whether the Oscars can simultaneously indulge in its usual ostentatious glitz.—
Stephen Humphries,
The Christian Science Monitor,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The enlightenment championed by the May 4 and June 4 movements may have never arrived, Wang argues, but nor was the quest in vain.—
Philip Tinari,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Critics of Lightfoot’s change tried in vain to roll it back that year.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pompous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pompous. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share