supercilious

American  

[soo-per-sil-ee-uhs] / ˌsu pərˈsɪl i əs /

adjective

1. haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.

   Synonyms:

   scornful, arrogant

   Antonyms:

   humble

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supercilious British  

/ ˌsuːpəˈsɪlɪəs /

adjective

1. displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference

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Other Word Forms

• superciliously
  adverb
• superciliousness
  noun
• unsupercilious
  adjective
• unsuperciliously
  adverb
• unsuperciliousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of supercilious

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin superciliōsus; see supercilium, -ous

Explanation

Supercilious people think very highly of themselves, more highly than of others. If your sister tends to act snobby and superior, you can describe her as supercilious. You might expect Nobel Prize winners to be supercilious — after all, they've reached the very heights of their profession. But one-on-one, your famous physics professor might be humble and fun to talk to, anything but supercilious. Most often, it's people who have no right to be arrogant, rude, and holier-than-thou who behave in the most supercilious ways. The Latin root supercilium means "haughty demeanor," but also "eyebrow" — as in an eyebrow raised in a haughty, supercilious expression.

Example Sentences

Supercilious when he should be grave, ridiculous when he should be dignified, self-important when he should be reflective, Don Lemon still hasn’t mastered the art of not making a live report all about him.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2014

Supercilious bureaucrats and functionaries have control over him.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2013

It's a terrific likeness. sandcrane Supercilious expression.....not good....and definitely not Kate!

From Time • Jan. 11, 2013

Supercilious esthetes and professional scoffers being alike discredited, the most promising movement in art criticism is toward a simpler, less pretentious and closer examination of the facts of art.

From Time Magazine Archive

Supercilious until that moment, and disposed for his own pride's sake to treat the buccaneer's suggestions with cavalier criticism, M. de Rivarol's manner suddenly changed.

From Captain Blood by Sabatini, Rafael