arrogance

Everyday

1. Behaving as if you are more important, cleverer or better than other people. tree →
2. Too much pride that makes someone rude or not willing to listen. tree →

In the lessons

Used in stories about proud characters who look down on others and often learn a lesson. In ethics and religious lessons, arrogance is seen as a fault, the opposite of humility. Phrases: full of arrogance, the arrogance of, sheer arrogance.

Examples

• The hare's arrogance made him lose the race to the tortoise. tree →
• His arrogance made it hard for others to like him. tree →
• She spoke with arrogance, as if nobody else knew anything. tree →
• The king's arrogance led to his downfall. tree →
• Being confident is good, but arrogance is not. tree →
• It was pure arrogance to think he couldn't lose. tree →
• Many stories teach that arrogance comes before a fall. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: arrogant; adverb: arrogantly. Opposite: humility, modesty. Not the same as confidence: confidence is believing in yourself, arrogance is thinking you are better than others. Spelled with double r.

In Jewish tradition

Pride that looks down on others and on God. In Job, Elihu asks whether God truly knows the arrogance of people.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that God hates pride and sees it even when it is hidden. Humility is held up as a basic Jewish virtue.

Examples

• And hath He not full knowledge of arrogance? (Writings JOB.35.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: arrogant; adverb: arrogantly. Opposite: humility, modesty. Not the same as confidence: confidence is believing in yourself, arrogance is thinking you are better than others. Spelled with double r.