imperiously
Americanadverb
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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.
As the car came to a standstill at a junction, I spotted one of the giant black birds that seemed to have followed me around Panama, perched imperiously on the side of the road.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
Ralph’s photo of a fox squirrel peering imperiously down from a tree is the winner of my 2023 Squirrel Week Squirrel Photography Contest.
From Washington Post • Apr. 12, 2023
At the recent WGC Match Play he drove the ball imperiously and has been putting well in his practice rounds this week at Augusta - key ingredients to be successful in the Masters.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2023
Then, he claims, she imperiously scooted away from the scene with nary a care in the world.
From Salon • Mar. 30, 2023
Mary Anne raised her eyes imperiously and cast a withering glance at her younger brother who returned it in full.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
