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Synonyms

hubris

American  
[hyoo-bris, hoo-] / ˈhyu brɪs, ˈhu- /

noun

  1. excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.


hubris British  
/ ˈhjuːbrɪs /

noun

  1. pride or arrogance

  2. (in Greek tragedy) an excess of ambition, pride, etc, ultimately causing the transgressor's ruin

"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

  • hubristic adjective
  • nonhubristic adjective
  • unhubristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hubris

First recorded in 1880–85, hubris is from the Greek word hýbris insolence

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.

Policymakers and private-sector actors should caution themselves against hubris.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Some of those are even remembered as the leaders who brought down great empires with their own hubris and egotism.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

The stadium curse is a well-known sign of corporate hubris and impending doom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

“With only having my hubris as my guide, what I allowed myself to receive — it didn’t result in the healthiest choices,” he told GQ.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

I bring up McCandless’s hubris and the dumb mistakes he made—the two or three readily avoidable blunders that ended up costing him his life.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer