imperious
Americanadjective
-
domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious person.
an imperious manner;
an imperious person.
- Synonyms:
- arrogant, despotic, tyrannical
- Antonyms:
- submissive
-
imperious need.
- Synonyms:
- necessary
- Antonyms:
- unnecessary
adjective
-
domineering; arrogant; overbearing
-
rare urgent; imperative
Other Word Forms
- imperiously adverb
- imperiousness noun
- nonimperious adjective
- nonimperiousness noun
- unimperious adjective
Etymology
Origin of imperious
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin imperiōsus “commanding, tyrannical,” equivalent to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous
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.
Ireland were blown away by France, sneaked home against Italy, were utterly imperious against England and then battled to a win against Wales.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026
But satisfaction isn’t in the cards for this general’s daughter, famed for her beauty and imperious style.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026
And so the imperious patriarch, Whitelaw Redfellow—played by a shadowy, barely seen figure who is only toward the end revealed to be Ed Harris—casts her out of the family estate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
She was into her fourth Australian Open final in a row and had been imperious until now, with tears in her eyes at the end.
From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026
When that doesn’t happen, I expect her to scold Dad, to stay steady if imperious.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
