Imperious
adjective
Having a proud and bossy manner.
He had an imperious way of giving orders.
Often appears as...
- imperious manner
- imperious behavior
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Showing a sense of urgency or requiring immediate attention.
The imperious demands of his superiors.
adjective
Believing that you are better and more important than other people.
An imperious tone of voice.
Often appears as...
- imperious voice
- imperious nature
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Having a proud and bossy manner.
He had an imperious way of giving orders.
Often appears as...
- imperious manner
- imperious behavior
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Showing a sense of urgency or requiring immediate attention.
The imperious demands of his superiors.
adjective
Believing that you are better and more important than other people.
An imperious tone of voice.
Often appears as...
- imperious voice
- imperious nature
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Power Dynamics
Used to describe someone in power or wanting to enforce their will on others.
The manager's imperious dismissal left no room for discussion.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often has a negative feel, suggesting rudeness or lack of consideration for others.
Her imperious demands alienated her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Authority Figure
Commonly used to describe someone who expects obedience, like bosses or leaders.
His imperious leadership style was controversial.
Pro Tip 1/3Power Dynamics
Used to describe someone in power or wanting to enforce their will on others.
The manager's imperious dismissal left no room for discussion.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often has a negative feel, suggesting rudeness or lack of consideration for others.
Her imperious demands alienated her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Authority Figure
Commonly used to describe someone who expects obedience, like bosses or leaders.
His imperious leadership style was controversial.
Pro Tip 1/3Power Dynamics
Used to describe someone in power or wanting to enforce their will on others.
The manager's imperious dismissal left no room for discussion.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often has a negative feel, suggesting rudeness or lack of consideration for others.
Her imperious demands alienated her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Authority Figure
Commonly used to describe someone who expects obedience, like bosses or leaders.
His imperious leadership style was controversial.
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Quote examples
John C. Calhoun
American Statesman
There was no measure that required greater caution or more severe scrutiny than one to impose taxes or raise a loan, be the form what it may. I hold that government has no right to do either, except when the public service makes it imperiously necessary, and then only to the extent that it requires.
Quote examples
Annie Besant
English Philosopher
Nothing but an imperious intellectual and moral necessity can drive into doubt a religious mind, for it is as though an earthquake shook the foundations of the soul, and the very being quivers and sways under the shock.
Quote examples
Peter Marshall
Scottish Clergyman
The true minister is in his pulpit not because he has chosen that profession as an easy means of livelihood, but because he could not help it, because he has obeyed an imperious summons that will not be denied.
Quote examples
Federica Montseny
Spanish Activist
We have confirmed something we only knew in theory, namely that revolution, in which uncontrolled and uncontrollable forces operate imperiously, is blind and destructive, grandiose and cruel.
Quote examples
Alice McDermott
American Writer
I was the youngest; I had two imperious older brothers - I didn't get to often complete sentences at the dinner table. So writing was a way of saying what nobody asked me to say.
Quote examples
Helen Hayes
American Actress
I'm a boss by nature. I'm bossy. I'm not imperious, but I don't really want people to curtsy low before me and back out of rooms, but I do like to run things.
Quote examples
Blaise Pascal
French Philosopher
Reason commands us far more imperiously than a master; for in disobeying the one we are unfortunate, and in disobeying the other we are fools.
Quote examples
George Sand
French Novelist
The prayers of a lover are more imperious than the menaces of the whole world.
Quote examples
George Bernard Shaw
Irish Playwright
Few of us have vitality enough to make any of our instincts imperious.
Quote examples
Helen Hunt Jackson
American Writer
There is nothing so skillful in its own defense as imperious pride.
Quote examples
John C. Calhoun
American Statesman
There was no measure that required greater caution or more severe scrutiny than one to impose taxes or raise a loan, be the form what it may. I hold that government has no right to do either, except when the public service makes it imperiously necessary, and then only to the extent that it requires.
Quote examples
Annie Besant
English Philosopher
Nothing but an imperious intellectual and moral necessity can drive into doubt a religious mind, for it is as though an earthquake shook the foundations of the soul, and the very being quivers and sways under the shock.
Quote examples
Peter Marshall
Scottish Clergyman
The true minister is in his pulpit not because he has chosen that profession as an easy means of livelihood, but because he could not help it, because he has obeyed an imperious summons that will not be denied.
Quote examples
Federica Montseny
Spanish Activist
We have confirmed something we only knew in theory, namely that revolution, in which uncontrolled and uncontrollable forces operate imperiously, is blind and destructive, grandiose and cruel.
Quote examples
Alice McDermott
American Writer
I was the youngest; I had two imperious older brothers - I didn't get to often complete sentences at the dinner table. So writing was a way of saying what nobody asked me to say.
Quote examples
Helen Hayes
American Actress
I'm a boss by nature. I'm bossy. I'm not imperious, but I don't really want people to curtsy low before me and back out of rooms, but I do like to run things.
Quote examples
Blaise Pascal
French Philosopher
Reason commands us far more imperiously than a master; for in disobeying the one we are unfortunate, and in disobeying the other we are fools.
Quote examples
George Sand
French Novelist
The prayers of a lover are more imperious than the menaces of the whole world.
Quote examples
George Bernard Shaw
Irish Playwright
Few of us have vitality enough to make any of our instincts imperious.
Quote examples
Helen Hunt Jackson
American Writer
There is nothing so skillful in its own defense as imperious pride.
Example 1 of 10
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