high-hat 1 of 3

adjective

ˈhī-ˈhat How to pronounce high-hat (audio)
Definition of high-hatnext
1
as in aristocratic
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior at the wedding reception the bride's high-hat relatives did their considerable best to ignore us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude several high-hat society types arrived after we did, but they got seated first

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

high-hat

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to disdain
to show contempt for one presidential candidate presents himself as an outsider who has long been high-hatted by the Beltway elite

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely was high-hatted by an old college friend who's now a power player on Wall Street

Synonyms & Similar Words

high hat

3 of 3

noun

as in hard hat

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of high-hat
Adjective
The sand crackling against the screen door became a high-hat drum. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 Over the last few years, a bevy of high-hat hotels have begun competing for the Big Apple’s best guests. — Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025 The bass, high-hat, guitar, and vocals all remain distinct in this busy mix and benefit from strong detail when the track fully kicks in. — PCMAG, 10 July 2024
Noun
Listen to Pete’s old s—t, it was formulated, the high hats, the horn. — Angel Diaz, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025 Instead of high hats, use wall washers, which bounce light off the walls and space. — Adam Shell, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025 Carter Beauford, perhaps the most unheralded drummer in music, busied himself with syncopated patterns and dizzying high hat on the song. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024 Deja stifled a yawn and cranked up her music; the warring bass and high hat thrummed in her chest and kept her mostly awake. — Brittany N. Williams, NOLA.com, 26 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-hat
  1. aristocratic
  2. arrogant
  3. disdain
  4. isolate
  5. hard hat
  6. disrespect
  7. stiff
  8. top hat
Adjective
  • Around them, an aristocratic winemaker defines his legacy, a legendary maître d’hôtel seeks his heir, and a reverent wine critic pursues the sublime.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026
  • By the 20th century, summer excursions to the Highlands were a fixture of the aristocratic calendar, with transatlantic visitors soon joining the English to shoot, fish, and feign indifference to horizontal rain.
    — Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of aristocratic
Adjective
  • Each of these decisions laid the groundwork for the war on Iran today, one that started without a clear strategy on the arrogant expectation of a quick victory.
    — Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The data center industry is only one face of an arrogant oligarchy that people believe now runs Congress, the courts, the White House, state legislatures and local governments.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Verb
  • Although the Constitution requires congressional involvement in war-making, Trump like Nixon disdained that mandate with terrible consequences.
    — Elizabeth Holtzman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Most telling is how openly Stassi disdains the idea of therapy, even insisting to the horror of pretty much everyone else onscreen that forcing hard conversations on reality TV is her therapy.
    — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of disdain
Verb
  • The rare meeting underscored Washington's willingness to reopen high-level diplomatic channels with Moscow, even as European allies have intended to keep the nation isolated while the war continues.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • When practical, keep at least one backup disconnected from your computer or otherwise isolated from routine activity.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of isolate
Noun
  • Sophie Cunningham put on her big girl pants and hard hat, and ventured into Canada for the first time in her life Tuesday night.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Police soon had images of a suspect – wearing a hard hat, tinted glasses and a face mask – spray-painting the security cameras around Fandrich's car early that morning, to apparently conceal the crime.
    — Lauren Clark, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hard hat
Verb
  • Oakley and Dolan have long feuded, with Oakley accusing Dolan of treating him less favorably than other Knicks legends, including by not providing him complimentary tickets and allegedly disrespecting him in other ways.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Unanswered emails can make people feel ignored or disrespected, or jump to worrying or envisioning worst-case scenarios, such as being on the brink of getting laid off or fired.
    — Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrespect
Verb
  • But, no, the Kittrells attempted to stiff their creditors entirely by way of their Children's Trust.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sutherland further emphasizes this point, saying that calcium and magnesium in hard water can be absorbed into the cotton, making the towels stiff and irritating.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of stiff
Noun
  • Liza wore a strapless, pleated emerald green gown while Ryan opted for a black suit, coordinating emerald green tie, and a black top hat.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Wellhouse Leisure The little top hat-like pop-up roof is of no use in expanding sleeping capacity, as it's installed exclusively for raising the snug interior to a standing height over 6 feet.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of top hat

Browse Nearby Words

high-handedness
high-hat
high hat
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Cite this Entry

“High-hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-hat. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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