PROUD Synonyms: 263 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'proud' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of proud are arrogant , disdainful , haughty , insolent , lordly , overbearing , and supercilious . While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness. // too proud to take charity

Q: When could 'arrogant' be used to replace 'proud'?

The meanings of arrogant and proud largely overlap; however, arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted. // a conceited and arrogant executive

Q: Where would 'disdainful' be a reasonable alternative to 'proud'?

The words disdainful and proud are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness. // disdainful of their social inferiors

Q: When would 'haughty' be a good substitute for 'proud'?

While the synonyms haughty and proud are close in meaning, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position. // a haughty aristocrat

Q: When might 'insolent' be a better fit than 'proud'?

In some situations, the words insolent and proud are roughly equivalent. However, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness. // ignored by an insolent waiter

Q: When can 'lordly' be used instead of 'proud'?

Although the words lordly and proud have much in common, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power. // a lordly condescension

Q: In what contexts can 'overbearing' take the place of 'proud'?

The synonyms overbearing and proud are sometimes interchangeable, but overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence. // an overbearing supervisor

Q: When is it sensible to use 'supercilious' instead of 'proud'?

The words supercilious and proud can be used in similar contexts, but supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness. // an aloof and supercilious manner

proud

adjective

ˈprau̇d

Definition of proud

as in arrogant

having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself the unemployed woman was too proud to take a job as a maid

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in smug

having too high an opinion of oneself a proud cheerleader who thought she should be treated like royalty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in magnificent

large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception the old neighborhood was known for its stately trees and proud Victorian houses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in triumphant

having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph in his acceptance letter he assured his soon-to-be boss that he was proud to be joining such a fine company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective proud differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of proud are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, insolent, lordly, overbearing, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When could arrogant be used to replace proud?

The meanings of arrogant and proud largely overlap; however, arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

Where would disdainful be a reasonable alternative to proud?

The words disdainful and proud are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When would haughty be a good substitute for proud?

While the synonyms haughty and proud are close in meaning, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

When might insolent be a better fit than proud?

In some situations, the words insolent and proud are roughly equivalent. However, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When can lordly be used instead of proud?

Although the words lordly and proud have much in common, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

In what contexts can overbearing take the place of proud?

The synonyms overbearing and proud are sometimes interchangeable, but overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

When is it sensible to use supercilious instead of proud?

The words supercilious and proud can be used in similar contexts, but supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

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 proud West Sacramento resident and event planner Danielle Rivers is proud to wear pink head to toe. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 One of Siegel’s proudest directorial decisions was this scene’s other half. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 Make every neighborhood school a place families are proud to choose, with special education and mental health support. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Docking the Akira One for the last time, Nathan feels proud that his team kept it together despite being on the edge of collapse literally the entire time. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proud

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proud

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

James, along with Sawitskas and his pals, want the carousel to be restored to its original glory, a magnificent, gleaming merry-go-round that inspired Disney to dream.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Opposite the magnificent eighteenth-century Grand Théatre, the 150-room Regent Grand perfectly mirrors the aristocratic elegance of this lovely city, thanks to the exquisite interiors of designer Jacques Garcia.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of magnificent

Adjective

Ryu became the quiet triumphant fighter while Ken failed to make the tournament of champions, losing most of his self worth and now six years later a shadow of his former self, prone to tacky endorsements and minor celebrity.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
If the rapturous reception on the Paris show floor is any indication, the classic family van is poised to make a triumphant, high-tech comeback.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of triumphant

Adjective

Snell wanted the Dashwoods to dress as if no whole costume team is coordinating things behind them — though haughty sister-in-law Fanny (Stacy Martin) is another matter.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
Hermetically sealed tableaux of haughty models daring you to look away from their perfection.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of haughty

Adjective

Understanding the answer is often more important than the opportunity itself.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Ties between Ukraine and its most important backer the United States have also been strained by the apparent withdrawal of US intelligence sharing, and restrictions to the Starlink satellite internet service.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of important

Adjective

And proving that great beauty knows no age, Olivia Colman made a glorious case for embracing the gray.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2026
Until this glorious fall Saturday afternoon gave way to the hints of early evening, Indiana football — once the losingest team in all of college football — hadn’t tasted their ordinary helping of defeat for 666 days.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of glorious

Browse Nearby Words

protuberant

proud

proudly

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Style

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

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Synonyms of proud

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Synonyms of proud

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'Pride': The Word That Went From Vice...

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