imperious

[ im-peer-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious person.

   an imperious manner;

   an imperious person.

   Synonyms: arrogant, despotic, tyrannical

   Antonyms: submissive

2. urgent; imperative:

   imperious need.

   Synonyms: necessary

   Antonyms: unnecessary

imperious

/ ɪmˈpɪərɪəs /

adjective

1. domineering; arrogant; overbearing
2. rare.
   urgent; imperative

Derived Forms

• imˈperiousness, noun
• imˈperiously, adverb

Other Words From

• im·pe·ri·ous·ly adverb
• im·pe·ri·ous·ness noun
• non·im·pe·ri·ous adjective
• non·im·pe·ri·ous·ness noun
• un·im·pe·ri·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imperious¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin imperiōsus “commanding, tyrannical,” equivalent to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of imperious¹

C16: from Latin imperiōsus from imperium command, power

Example Sentences

Blind almost from birth, Davis was nonetheless an imposing human being—in photographs and on film, he appears imperious, kinglike.

From The Daily Beast

In the following issue, The Group was the subject of a snide, imperious review by Norman Mailer.

From The Daily Beast

Imperious despot, insolent in strife, Lover of ruin, enemy of life!

From The Daily Beast

And while Chasen could be imperious, “road rage was not her thing.”

From The Daily Beast

A trademark outfit is vital to sending out the right signals of imperious power as real-life dictators understand all too well.

From The Daily Beast

Edna was a trifle embarrassed at being thus signaled out for the imperious little woman's favor.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a refuge from herself; in his imperious demands her memory slept, her depths were stagnant.

From Project Gutenberg

He paused, and to illustrate the imperious humor of the Scot, he waved his fingers and a red wrister at me.

From Project Gutenberg

She might have settled down for life on Russian Hill, so completely did she make the new environment fit her imperious person.

From Project Gutenberg

Marriage, and later the birth of his son had softened Armand Aubigny's imperious and exacting nature greatly.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arrogant
• autocratic
• dictatorial
• domineering
• exacting
• haughty
• high-handed
• tyrannical