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conceited

[kuhn-see-tid]
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adjective
  1. having an excessively favorable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc.
  2. Archaic.
    1. having an opinion.
    2. fanciful; whimsical.
  3. Obsolete. intelligent; clever.
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Origin of conceited

First recorded in 1535–45; conceit + -ed2
Related formscon·ceit·ed·ly, adverbcon·ceit·ed·ness, nounun·con·ceit·ed, adjectiveun·con·ceit·ed·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. vain, proud, egotistical, self-important, self-satisfied.

conceit

[kuhn-seet]
noun
  1. an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance, wit, etc.
  2. something that is conceived in the mind; a thought; idea: He jotted down the conceits of his idle hours.
  3. imagination; fancy.
  4. a fancy; whim; fanciful notion.
  5. an elaborate, fanciful metaphor, especially of a strained or far-fetched nature.
  6. the use of such metaphors as a literary characteristic, especially in poetry.
  7. a fancy, purely decorative article.
  8. British Dialect.
    1. favorable opinion; esteem.
    2. personal opinion or estimation.
  9. Obsolete. the faculty of conceiving; apprehension.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to flatter (especially oneself).
  2. British Dialect. to take a fancy to; have a good opinion of.
  3. Obsolete.
    1. to imagine.
    2. to conceive; apprehend.
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Idioms
  1. out of conceit with, displeased or dissatisfied with.
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Origin of conceit

1350–1400; Middle English conceyte, conceipt, derivative of conceive by analogy with deceive, deceit and receive, receipt; compare Anglo-French conceite; see concept

Synonyms

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1. self-esteem, vanity, egotism, complacency. See pride.

Antonyms

1. humility.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

arrogantcockygallhamimmodestknow-it-allnarcissisticoverweeningphonyself-importantsnottyvainvaingloriouswindbagbigheadedloudmouthswollen-headed

Examples from the Web for conceited

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • It helps one, or should help one, to realise both, and not to be too conceited about either.

    De Profundis

    Oscar Wilde

  • You'll think I'm a conceited ass, but I'm not a bad sort, Eudora.

    The Yates Pride

    Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  • I mean you think I'm conceited and rich and don't know what trouble is.

    The Fortune Hunter

    Louis Joseph Vance

  • Take him all in all, James was a bigot, a tyrant, a conceited fool.

  • You pet them and fawn on them, and naturally they get conceited.

British Dictionary definitions for conceited

conceited

adjective
  1. having a high or exaggerated opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments
  2. archaic fanciful
  3. obsolete witty or intelligent
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Derived Formsconceitedly, adverbconceitedness, noun

conceit

noun
  1. a high, often exaggerated, opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments; vanity
  2. literary an elaborate image or far-fetched comparison, esp as used by the English Metaphysical poets
  3. archaic
    1. a witty expression
    2. fancy; imagination
    3. an idea
  4. obsolete a small ornament
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verb (tr)
  1. Northern English dialect to like or be able to bear (something, such as food or drink)
  2. obsolete to think or imagine
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Word Origin

C14: from conceive
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

Word Origin and History for conceited

adj.

c.1600, "having an overweening opinion of oneself" (short for self-conceited, 1590s); earlier "having intelligence" (1540s); past participle adjective from conceit (q.v.).

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conceit

n.

late 14c., "something formed in the mind, thought, notion," from conceiven (see conceive) based on analogy of deceit and receipt. Sense evolved from "something formed in the mind," to "fanciful or witty notion" (1510s), to "vanity" (c.1600) through shortening of self-conceit (1580s).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper