Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Complete, utter, absolute: Used to emphasize that something is extreme, total, or of the worst kind, often in a negative or disapproving context.
   • Notorious, unmitigated: Describes a person or thing that is notoriously or outstandingly bad.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • He is an arrant fool for believing such an obvious lie.
  • The plan was arrant nonsense from the very beginning.
  • The history books describe the tyrant as an arrant villain.

Advanced Usage

• "arrant nonsense": Complete and utter foolishness or falsehood.
  • The conspiracy theory he proposed was arrant nonsense.
• "arrant coward": A person who is utterly and completely lacking in courage.
  • He was branded an arrant coward for abandoning his comrades.

Variants and Related Words

• Arrantly (adverb): In a complete or utter manner.
  • His statement was arrantly false.

Synonyms

• Utter: Complete or absolute.
• Complete: Having all necessary parts; total.
• Unmitigated: Absolute; not lessened or excused.
• Thoroughgoing: Carried out thoroughly and completely.

Notes on Usage

• The word arrant is almost always used before a noun to modify it (, ). It is rarely used predicatively (e.g., "The fool was arrant" is uncommon).
• Its usage is formal and literary. It carries a strong pejorative (negative and critical) force, intensifying the negative quality of the noun it describes.
• It is considered an archaic or dated term in modern English but is still understood and used for emphatic or stylistic effect.

Adjective

1. without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
   • an arrant fool
   • a complete coward
   • a consummate fool
   • a double-dyed villain
   • gross negligence
   • a perfect idiot
   • pure folly
   • what a sodding mess
   • stark staring mad
   • a thoroughgoing villain
   • utter nonsense
   • the unadulterated truth