pompous

adjective

ˈpäm-pəs How to pronounce pompous (audio)
Definition of pompousnext
1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the pompous waiter served us in the manner of a person doing some poor soul a great favor

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself a pompous piano teacher who thought that the music world was lucky to have her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pretentious
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance a pompous gambling casino decorated to look like a palace in ancient Rome

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pompous Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Far from being arty or pompous, Tull laced its sound with a wicked sense of humor and occasional social commentary. — Ernesto Lechner, SPIN, 25 May 2026 The usually pompous Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9th had to be pared down for fear of Ukrainian drones. — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026 Then give the land back, you pompous charlatans. — Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pompous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pompous
  1. arrogant
  2. smug
  3. pretentious
  4. proud
  5. grandiose
  6. self-important
  7. ostentatious
  8. vainglorious
Adjective
  • Wright was known to be arrogant, and his self-importance is on full display here.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Georg, an unemployed auto mechanic, comes across as an arrogant jock.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Here was my chance to get out of London, this counterfeit of death with its everywhere rage and its moribund culture and its smug population and its streets steeped in resentment and the sky pressing down like a chloroform rag.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Hilton vouches for their integrity, then quickly pivots into an attack on smug Democrats who take voters for granted.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of smug
Adjective
  • But others have slammed the effort as a pretentious and obnoxious slog.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Leigh feared the tracks might be too arch, too pretentious, too insincere.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of pretentious
Adjective
  • The locker real estate in the team’s second arena was something the proud parent didn’t even consider as part of his son’s Heat takeover.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Musk’s forthright, crusty dad Errol sounds almost proud that something was bullied out of his son, but the movie avoids filling out that traumatic childhood.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • Especially the theatre world with its prejudiced, grandiose characters.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • On a blistering surprise EP, Deafheaven find the vicious attack and grandiose drama of symphonic black metal perfectly suited to their purposes.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of grandiose
Adjective
  • These species, along with teal and shovelers, often get categorized by self-important duck hunters as scrap ducks or bonus ducks.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Public officials attend each year to bear witness and show their respects, not deliver self-important speeches.
    — Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of self-important
Adjective
  • Even in a nation known for ostentatious displays of baseball obsession, the ensuing theatrics went viral.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The structures, made of raw concrete, exuded an ostentatious form of modesty, emblematic of the town’s character.
    — Afra Wang, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of ostentatious
Adjective
  • Claire’s elective death therefore remains a problematic choice for some viewers, an act of vainglorious selfishness from a woman who was never terribly nice to begin with.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026
  • Melodramatic and vainglorious, moody and capricious, a fidgety, neurotic hypochondriac, Stalin was a bundle of appalling contradictions.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of vainglorious

Browse Nearby Words

pomposity
pompous
pompously
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Cite this Entry

“Pompous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pompous. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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