Supercilious: meaning, definitions and examples

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supercilious

 

[ ˌsuː.pəˈsɪl.i.əs ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

attitude

Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.

Synonyms

arrogant, condescending, haughty

Examples of usage

  • She always spoke in a supercilious tone, as if everyone around her was beneath her.
  • His supercilious attitude made it difficult for others to approach him.
  • Don't be so supercilious, no one likes a know-it-all.
Context #2 | Adjective

appearance

Having or showing the proud and unpleasant attitude of people who think that they are better or more important than other people.

Synonyms

disdainful, snobbish, uppity

Examples of usage

  • Her supercilious smile made it clear that she considered herself superior.
  • The supercilious look on his face angered those around him.

Translations

Translations of the word "supercilious" in other languages:

🇵🇹 arrogante

🇮🇳 अहंकारी

🇩🇪 überheblich

🇮🇩 angkuh

🇺🇦 зарозумілий

🇵🇱 wyniosły

🇯🇵 傲慢な (ごうまんな)

🇫🇷 hautain

🇪🇸 arrogante

🇹🇷 kibirli

🇰🇷 거만한

🇸🇦 متعجرف

🇨🇿 povýšený

🇸🇰 povýšený

🇨🇳 傲慢的

🇸🇮 prevzeten

🇮🇸 dráttharður

🇰🇿 менмен

🇬🇪 გადაჭარბებული

🇦🇿 kibirli

🇲🇽 arrogante

Word origin

The word 'supercilious' originated from the Latin word 'super' meaning above, and 'cilium' meaning eyelid. In ancient Rome, raising one's eyebrows was seen as a sign of haughtiness or disdain towards others. Over time, the term evolved to describe someone who looks down on others with a sense of superiority.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,574, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.