self-important
Americanadjective
adjective
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.
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
As Frost pointed out, it’s not necessary to annoy people with self-important umbrage.
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2025
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
Denis Leary, with a distracting dye job, plays self-important Army Col.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2024
The senior staff, conferring in self-important groups at the corridor intersections, were nursing a secret.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
