imperious

[im-peer-ee-uhs]

adjective

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

   an imperious manner;

   an imperious person.

   Synonyms: arrogant, despotic, tyrannical
   Antonyms: submissive

2. urgent; imperative.

   imperious need.

   Synonyms: necessary
   Antonyms: unnecessary

imperious

/ ɪmˈpɪərɪəs /

adjective

1. domineering; arrogant; overbearing

2. rare,  urgent; imperative

Other Word Forms

• imperiously adverb
• imperiousness noun
• nonimperious adjective
• nonimperiousness noun
• unimperious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imperious¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of imperious¹

C16: from Latin imperiōsus from imperium command, power

Example Sentences

She said Summers was “not exactly socialized” and called him “imperious.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Carelessly she laid her hand upon the desk to show off the emerald ring, and she spoke in the most imperious tone she could manage.

Read more on Literature

Anthony Gottlieb sums him up in an engrossing biography, “Ludwig Wittgenstein: Philosophy in the Age of Airplanes,” writing that “his charismatic gift was to be halting, self-deprecating and imperious all at the same time.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He hasn't dropped a set at the Finals since losing that final to the Serb two years ago, and he was imperious over the week in northern Italy.

Read more on Barron's

Slowly, one realizes that she’s actually impeccable in this role, the perfect fit to play a homophobic, imperious Virginian mother.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• arrogant 
• autocratic 
• dictatorial 
• domineering 
• exacting 
• haughty 
• high-handed 
• tyrannical