hubris

[hyoo-bris, hoo-]

noun

1. excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.

hubris

/ ˈhjuːbrɪs /

noun

1. pride or arrogance

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

Other Word Forms

• hubristic adjective
• nonhubristic adjective
• unhubristic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hubris¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hubris¹

C19: from Greek

Example Sentences

Manifest destiny gets a mention, and the plot will conventionally pose Native humbleness against white hubris.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Defying this power discrepancy is the source of both hubris and heroism in the protagonists of classical tragedy.

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Spanning eight episodes each, both series explore the circumstances that gave rise to horrific crimes — from dynastic hubris, corruption and greed to societal prejudice and lazy law enforcement.

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Liberals either didn’t notice or underestimated his chutzpah and hubris.

Read more on Salon

Lake Superior’s first known commercial casualty, in 1816, was a schooner with a name that suggests hubris: the Invincible.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• audacity 
• chutzpah 
• cockiness 
• pretension 
• vanity