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as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude an imperious movie star who thinks she's some sort of goddess

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word imperious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of imperious are domineering, imperative, masterful, and peremptory. While all these words mean "tending to impose one's will on others," imperious implies a commanding nature or manner and often suggests arrogant assurance.

an imperious executive used to getting his own way

When would domineering be a good substitute for imperious?

The synonyms domineering and imperious are sometimes interchangeable, but domineering suggests an overbearing or arbitrary manner and an obstinate determination to enforce one's will.

children controlled by domineering parents

When could imperative be used to replace imperious?

While the synonyms imperative and imperious are close in meaning, imperative implies peremptoriness arising more from the urgency of the situation than from an inherent will to dominate.

an imperative appeal for assistance

In what contexts can masterful take the place of imperious?

The words masterful and imperious can be used in similar contexts, but masterful implies a strong personality and ability to act authoritatively.

her masterful personality soon dominated the movement

When is it sensible to use peremptory instead of imperious?

The words peremptory and imperious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, peremptory implies an abrupt dictatorial manner coupled with an unwillingness to brook disobedience or dissent.

given a peremptory dismissal

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 imperious But against Spain, the imperious combination that has been lacking for Wiegman’s side over the past 12 months returned. Michael Cox, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 Wilson, a former university president with an imperious air, returned from Europe a hero. Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025 Just four days after the satisfaction of chalking up back-to-back away wins in the league for the first time all season, Wrexham’s one-time imperious home form took another dent as a third game at the STōK Cae Ras passed without maximum points being claimed. Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025 Slot’s team drew at Nottingham Forest and, on the weekend, 90 goalless minutes had passed at Brentford with a feeling that the imperious phase was finally at an end. Darren Richman, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for imperious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperious
Adjective
  • Singapore, for instance, is highly economically free but sharply socially authoritarian.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
  • To his critics, his centralization of power and ruthless purge of opponents put Malaysia on an authoritarian trajectory.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Maybe so, but that’s an arrogant thing for such a young killer to say.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Most times, these changes are a result of the over-analysis of some arbitrary KPIs meant to gauge the health and growth of the platform.
    Solo Ceesay, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In short, protectionism grants states too much arbitrary power to intervene in the market and thus spawns more platforms for the exchange of political favors.
    JAVIER CORRALES, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, the editorial minimizes the urgent reality facing our region.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
  • That is the urgent story that authors Allen and Parnes ignored.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • As mild-mannered schoolteacher Mr. Lisbon, James Woods plays a quiet counterpoint to his domineering wife.
    Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Among them towers the frighteningly domineering Honoria Glossop.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With acute stress, a rapid spike in the hormone typically helps your brain process and retain memories so they can be retrieved later.
    Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 1 May 2025
  • Museums are imperiled by acute financial, social, and ideological challenges.
    Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • In this authoritative, elegant biography, Daut meticulously combs the torrents of contemporary letters and broadsheets to draw a complex, contradictory portrait of Christophe, also known as King Henry.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The distant therapist Not too long ago, therapists acted like black boxes and authoritative gods.
    David E. Tolchinsky, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Critics, including autocratic governments across the region, view it as a threat.
    Omar Akour, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • This new, more favorable vision of Russia was developing its own intellectual architecture, one that married isolationism, nationalism and traditionalism with a growing appreciation for autocratic strongmen who were bending their countries to their will.
    Eric Jason Martin Tanya Pérez Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Imperious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperious. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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