Supercilious
adjective
Acting as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs or ideas are not important.
He looked at me with a supercilious smirk on his face.
Often appears as...
- supercilious attitude
- supercilious smile
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Acting as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs or ideas are not important.
He looked at me with a supercilious smirk on his face.
Often appears as...
- supercilious attitude
- supercilious smile
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Nuance
Supercilious is always used negatively, suggesting disapproval of someone's behavior or attitude.
His supercilious manner made him unpopular at the office.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Superiority
Superciliousness implies a sense of social superiority, as if looking down on others.
Her supercilious comments about the event revealed her elitism.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Context
When used, it often evokes emotions of irritation or resentment in others.
His supercilious disdain for our project was very demotivating.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Nuance
Supercilious is always used negatively, suggesting disapproval of someone's behavior or attitude.
His supercilious manner made him unpopular at the office.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Superiority
Superciliousness implies a sense of social superiority, as if looking down on others.
Her supercilious comments about the event revealed her elitism.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Context
When used, it often evokes emotions of irritation or resentment in others.
His supercilious disdain for our project was very demotivating.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Nuance
Supercilious is always used negatively, suggesting disapproval of someone's behavior or attitude.
His supercilious manner made him unpopular at the office.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Superiority
Superciliousness implies a sense of social superiority, as if looking down on others.
Her supercilious comments about the event revealed her elitism.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Context
When used, it often evokes emotions of irritation or resentment in others.
His supercilious disdain for our project was very demotivating.
Compare with
arrogantcondescendcontemptuousdisdainfulhaughtypatronizeself-importantsnobbish
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Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
In Henry Adams, I discovered not only the prototype of the modern thinker but also someone who is more interesting: a viper-toothed, puling, supercilious crank, thwarted in ambition, aging gracelessly, mad at the cosmos, and ashamed of his own jejune ideals. He is nevertheless very dear to me.
Quote examples
Florence King
American Writer
I've done pretty well as a professional fed-up. The tools of my trade so far have been irony, tongue-in-cheek mockery, and supercilious contempt, but these are highly civilized weapons designed for 18th-century French salons.
Quote examples
John Lydon
English Musician
Here's how I understand music. If you can play the same bunch of noise twice, it's music. To go beyond that is supercilious and pontificating.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
The study of literature threatens to become a kind of paleontology of failure, and criticism a supercilious psychoanalysis of authors.
Quote examples
Emily Maitlis
British Journalist
I have facial blindness. It's hugely embarrassing as it makes me seem supercilious or snobbish.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
In Henry Adams, I discovered not only the prototype of the modern thinker but also someone who is more interesting: a viper-toothed, puling, supercilious crank, thwarted in ambition, aging gracelessly, mad at the cosmos, and ashamed of his own jejune ideals. He is nevertheless very dear to me.
Quote examples
Florence King
American Writer
I've done pretty well as a professional fed-up. The tools of my trade so far have been irony, tongue-in-cheek mockery, and supercilious contempt, but these are highly civilized weapons designed for 18th-century French salons.
Quote examples
John Lydon
English Musician
Here's how I understand music. If you can play the same bunch of noise twice, it's music. To go beyond that is supercilious and pontificating.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
The study of literature threatens to become a kind of paleontology of failure, and criticism a supercilious psychoanalysis of authors.
Quote examples
Emily Maitlis
British Journalist
I have facial blindness. It's hugely embarrassing as it makes me seem supercilious or snobbish.
Example 1 of 5
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