presumptuous
Americanadjective
-
full of, characterized by, or showing presumption or readiness to presume in conduct or thought, as by saying or doing something without right or permission.
- Synonyms:
- arrogant, fresh, audacious, impertinent
- Antonyms:
- unassuming, modest
-
unwarrantedly or impertinently bold; forward.
- Synonyms:
- arrogant, fresh, audacious, impertinent
- Antonyms:
- unassuming, modest
-
Obsolete. presumptive.
adjective
-
characterized by presumption or tending to presume; bold; forward
-
an obsolete word for presumptive
Related Words
See bold.
Other Word Forms
- overpresumptuous adjective
- overpresumptuously adverb
- overpresumptuousness noun
- presumptuously adverb
- presumptuousness noun
- unpresumptuous adjective
- unpresumptuously adverb
- unpresumptuousness noun
Etymology
Origin of presumptuous
1300–50; Middle English < Late Latin praesūmptuōsus, variant of Latin praesūmptiōsus. See presumption, -ous
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.
Jonathan Paquin, a political science professor at Canada's Universite Laval, told AFP: "The American administration was undoubtedly presumptuous in believing it held all the cards."
From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026
I only found it incredibly presumptuous for him to believe he’d never again change a diaper.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025
You can offer to send a Calendly link but sending one out in the first outreach is a bit presumptuous.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
"It's presumptuous to say that, but I think yes," Biden told the outlet when asked if he would have won in November.
From Salon • Jan. 8, 2025
“I’m sorry. It was presumptuous to come here and I beg your pardon, but I swear to you I meant no disrespect. I only wanted to help you.”
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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.
