imperious

[im-peer-ee-uhs]

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adjective

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

urgent; imperative: imperious need.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of imperious

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

SYNONYMS FOR imperious

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

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ANTONYMS FOR imperious

1. submissive. 2. unnecessary.

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Related forms

im·pe·ri·ous·ly, adverbim·pe·ri·ous·ness, nounnon·im·pe·ri·ous, adjectivenon·im·pe·ri·ous·ly, adverb

non·im·pe·ri·ous·ness, nounun·im·pe·ri·ous, adjectiveun·im·pe·ri·ous·ly, adverb

Can be confusedimperative imperial imperious

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
"But I will not," he said masterfully, looking straight into her eyes with an imperiousness that sat well upon him.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1896 to 1901|Lucy Maud Montgomery
In truth, his imperiousness, his contempt, had been melted and charmed away by the genial smiles of his auditors.
Money Magic|Hamlin Garland

The change was marked in the imperiousness of Randolph's bearing, in the curl of his lip, and the abruptness of his speech.
Trevethlan: (Vol 2 of 3)|William Davy Watson
Miss Carruth, said the young preacher with imperiousness, my work is not a parlor charade.
A Singular Life|Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
She imperiously commanded, yet there was under the imperiousness a note of pleading.
The Key to Yesterday|Charles Neville Buck

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.