conceited

Everyday

Too proud of yourself; thinking you are cleverer, better-looking or more important than you are. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, a conceited character often boasts and then gets a lesson. Toad in The Wind in the Willows is very conceited: he sings songs about how wonderful he is («The world has held great Heroes… but never a name to go down to fame compared with that of Toad!»). Kipling's Just So animals can be conceited too. The noun is conceit. Opposite: modest, humble.

Examples

• Toad was so conceited that he wrote songs about himself. tree →
• She is clever but not at all conceited. tree →
• Don't be conceited just because you won. tree →
• The conceited peacock spread his tail for everyone to admire. tree →
• Badger told Toad to stop being so conceited. tree →
• It sounded conceited when he said he was the best player in the school. tree →
• Nobody likes a conceited winner. tree →
• "How conceited you are!" exclaimed the beetle. tree →

Note

The noun is conceit (also an old word for a clever idea in a poem). Similar words: vain, big-headed, arrogant, stuck-up (informal). Spelling: ei after c — conceited.