conceit
noun
an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance, wit, etc.
conceits
-
pluralof conceit.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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 of Mr. Horowitz’s conceits are present here: a murder mystery within the murder mystery, winking nods at the author’s real-life career as a novelist and screenwriter, and playful experimentation with the detective-story form.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
“Gladiator II” and “Alien: Romulus” are Ridley Scott properties that heavily retread ground covered in the original conceits that inspired them.
From Salon ● Dec. 9, 2024
So what might seem like improvements or expansions — elaborate group choreography, imaginative conceits — risk straying from the emotional core that makes flamenco flamenco.
From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2024
Awarding the show three stars, the Telegraph's Claire Allfree said the "unstable, performative nature of identity, and its analogous resonance for theatre - the ultimate con trick - are familiar conceits".
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2024
The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
