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
Synonym Usage
See bold.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of presumptuous
1300–50; Middle English < Late Latin praesūmptuōsus, variant of Latin praesūmptiōsus. See presumption, -ous
Explanation
When someone takes liberties, doing things too boldly, you can describe them with the adjective presumptuous. Presumptuous comes from the Latin verb praesumere which means to take for granted. It means taking for granted your access to someone or power to do something. It's a very satisfying and effective word because it belittles and criticizes at the same time. In Shakespeare's Henry VI, Northumberland calls Warwick "presumptuous and proud" for trying to get rid of the king. It's usually pronounced with all four syllables, pre-ZUMP-choo-us, although pre-ZUMP-chus is acceptable as well.
Vocabulary lists containing presumptuous
The Great Gatsby
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The Other Wes Moore
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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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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
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 of me to think he doesn’t have the money for that book.
From Salon • Oct. 11, 2025
"I think it would be presumptuous to say that, okay, now we are doomed here in the Nordics because one company has failed," she argues.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2025
“Of course it is not presumptuous for you to try. If you can’t do it, nobody can.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
