imperiously
Americanadverb
-
in a domineering or haughty manner.
She held out her hand imperiously, but the messenger did not immediately hand over the letter.
-
in an imperative way; urgently.
The need to be accepted can be felt as imperiously as the needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Other Word Forms
- nonimperiously adverb
- unimperiously adverb
Etymology
Origin of imperiously
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.
Sammy answered imperiously with a gesture so dramatic a cigar ash flew across the car toward Ben.
From Literature
His house turned a great, immaculate wall of shuttered windows to the sun, cedars surrounding it on three sides imperiously.
From Literature
Mary Anne raised her eyes imperiously and cast a withering glance at her younger brother who returned it in full.
From Literature
Now she held up her hand, imperiously, and silenced Hagar’s whines.
From Literature
Among the terriers he stalked imperiously, and Toots and Ysabel he utterly ignored, for he was king,—king over all creeping, crawling, flying things of Judge Miller’s place, humans included.
From Literature
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.
