imperious
Americanadjective
-
domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious person.
an imperious manner;
an imperious person.
- Synonyms:
- arrogant, despotic, tyrannical
- Antonyms:
- submissive
-
imperious need.
- Synonyms:
- necessary
- Antonyms:
- unnecessary
adjective
-
domineering; arrogant; overbearing
-
rare urgent; imperative
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of imperious
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin imperiōsus “commanding, tyrannical,” equivalent to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Someone who is imperious gives orders in a way that shows they feel superior or more important than other people. You might want the smartest kid in the class as your lab partner, but not if they have an imperious attitude and boss you around. Near synonyms are arrogant, overbearing, and domineering. The adjective imperious is from Latin imperiōsus, from imperium "command, supreme power, empire." This Latin word is also the ultimate source of English empire, "a group of countries or territories controlled by a single ruler or one government."
Vocabulary lists containing imperious
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Things Fall Apart
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Grade 10, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Imperious Ireland dismantled Scotland with a display of clinical brilliance to reach the World Cup quarter-finals and send their opponents crashing out of the tournament.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2023
Imperious midfielder and captain Luka Modric had set the scene even before kick off against Brazil.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 10, 2022
Imperious, clever, cruel and unhappy, Princess Margaret is described by Craig Brown as “the one who wasn’t,” “the second-born, the also-ran.”
From New York Times • Aug. 21, 2018
Imperious Megadeth poobah fires succession of pontifical edicts from the flaming trebuchet of his own ego.
From The Guardian • Dec. 13, 2016
Imperious was a more ancient term, signifying the same as imperial.
From Hamlet by Kean, Charles John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
