imperious

[ im-peer-ee-uhs ]
See synonyms for: imperiousimperiouslyimperiousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious manner;an imperious person.

  2. urgent; imperative: imperious need.

Origin of imperious

1
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin imperiōsus “commanding, tyrannical,” equivalent to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous

Other words for imperious

Opposites for imperious

Other words from imperious

  • im·pe·ri·ous·ly, adverb
  • im·pe·ri·ous·ness, noun
  • non·im·pe·ri·ous, adjective
  • non·im·pe·ri·ous·ness, noun
  • un·im·pe·ri·ous, adjective

Words that may be confused with imperious

Words Nearby imperious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use imperious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imperious

imperious

/ (ɪmˈpɪərɪəs) /


adjective
  1. domineering; arrogant; overbearing

  2. rare urgent; imperative

Origin of imperious

1
C16: from Latin imperiōsus from imperium command, power

Derived forms of imperious

  • imperiously, adverb
  • imperiousness, noun

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