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Showing results for self-important. Search instead for selfimportance.
Synonyms

self-important

American  
[self-im-pawr-tnt, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪmˈpɔr tnt, ˌsɛlf- /

adjective

  1. having or showing an exaggerated opinion of one's own importance; pompously conceited or haughty.


self-important British  

adjective

  1. having or showing an unduly high opinion of one's own abilities, importance, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of self-important

First recorded in 1765–75


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.

See Examples For:

Then again, unflinching and sometimes self-important intellectualism is a major aspect of Schoenbrun’s whole oeuvre.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

All this will be to your tastes or not, but credit Mr. McInerney with not being self-important about his material.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

Anderson’s film is nowhere near as bad, but it’s as deluded about reality and self-important about its perspective as “Crash” was.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026

Pompous and self-important, it sounded as if the newspaper was really trying to say Without the Washington Post, we’re all screwed.

From Slate ● Mar. 1, 2025

He came toward them at a self-important clip with an attache case under his arm.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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