imperious

[im-peer-ee-uhs]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR imperious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

urgent; imperative: imperious need.

Origin of imperious

1535–45; < Latin imperiōsus commanding, tyrannical, equivalent to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous

Related formsim·pe·ri·ous·ly, adverbim·pe·ri·ous·ness, nounnon·im·pe·ri·ous, adjectivenon·im·pe·ri·ous·ly, adverbnon·im·pe·ri·ous·ness, nounun·im·pe·ri·ous, adjectiveun·im·pe·ri·ous·ly, adverb

Can be confusedimperative imperial imperious

Synonyms for imperious

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR imperious ON THESAURUS.COM

1. tyrannical, despotic, arrogant. 2. necessary.

Antonyms for imperious

1. submissive. 2. unnecessary.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for imperiousness

chutzpah, pretension, disdain, hubris, aloofness, ego, pride, egotism, vanity, smugness, presumption, autocracy, oppression, domination, cruelty, authoritarianism, despotism, totalitarianism, coercion, oligarchy

Examples from the Web for imperiousness

Contemporary Examples of imperiousness

Eventually, that imperiousness helped to alienate her own party, which forced her to step down in 1990.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Lasting Legacy
Christopher Dickey
April 8, 2013
There is an imperiousness about Romney that comes across when he is challenged.
Their Many Debate Missteps Could Haunt Romney and Santorum
John Avlon
February 23, 2012

Historical Examples of imperiousness

There was an imperiousness in the lawyer's tone which was almost irresistible.
Cousin Henry
Anthony Trollope
A life of indolence and luxury had bred a certain air of imperiousness in her.
Colorado Jim
George Goodchild
And her eyes searched his with a certain boldness and imperiousness of gaze.
The History of Sir Richard Calmady
Lucas Malet
I may, perhaps, be producing an unfair impression of imperiousness and insolence.
Pioneers of Science
Oliver Lodge
By the imperiousness of her gesture and her uplifted head she swept them out before her.
The Dust Flower
Basil King

British Dictionary definitions for imperiousness

imperious

adjective

domineering; arrogant; overbearing

rare urgent; imperative

Derived Formsimperiously, adverbimperiousness, noun

Word Origin for imperious

C16: from Latin imperiōsus from imperium command, power

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

Word Origin and History for imperiousness

imperious

adj.

1540s, from Latin imperiosus "commanding, mighty, powerful," from imperium "empire, command" (see empire). Related: Imperiously.