as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
a bumptious young man whose family wealth gave him a sense of entitlement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 bumptious
Despite lines that are initially chatty and chirpy, Corden shows how bumptious his character really is.
—
David Benedict, Variety, 26 June 2024
Although not always directly correlated with being bumptious and arrogant, performing at a higher standard than others, and having something to show for it, will always garner attention.
—Clare French, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2024
Which is not to imply that the six-year-old, with quite a bumptious career behind him, is of Secretariat's muster.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The story is a familiar one — a young immigrant fetches up in New York to seek his fortune, only to be buffeted by a bumptious city and cut to the quick by its competitive edge — but Torres reshapes it into something simultaneously more fantastical and far more real.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bumptious
David Benedict, Variety, 26 June 2024
Although not always directly correlated with being bumptious and arrogant, performing at a higher standard than others, and having something to show for it, will always garner attention.
—Clare French, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2024
Which is not to imply that the six-year-old, with quite a bumptious career behind him, is of Secretariat's muster.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The story is a familiar one — a young immigrant fetches up in New York to seek his fortune, only to be buffeted by a bumptious city and cut to the quick by its competitive edge — but Torres reshapes it into something simultaneously more fantastical and far more real.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bumptious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumptious
arrogant
Adjective
-
As the day goes on, Jim goes from a caricature of an arrogant male director to an oddly compelling picture of a pathetic man, moved by spite toward his ex-wife, Anita.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
-
Actor Tyler Hilton played Chris Keller, a charming but arrogant musician, on four seasons of the teen soap.—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bumptious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumptious. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share