Definition

Adjective: A state of showing extreme pride and defiance, often with a sense of scorn or contempt for danger, opposition, or conventional norms. It describes an attitude that is unyielding, fearless, and disdainfully superior.

Usage

This word is used to describe a person's attitude, expression, posture, or statement. It conveys not just pride, but a defiant pride that challenges or scorns external threats or societal judgment. It is a literary and somewhat formal term.

Examples

• He stood with a ngạo nghễ posture before the enemy. (Anh ấy đứng với tư thế ngạo nghễ trước kẻ thù.)
• She gave a ngạo nghễ smile, undeterred by the criticism. (Cô ấy nở một nụ cười ngạo nghễ, không nao núng trước những lời chỉ trích.)
• The artist lived a ngạo nghễ life, ignoring popular trends. (Người nghệ sĩ sống một cuộc đời ngạo nghễ, bỏ qua các xu hướng phổ biến.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sống ngạo nghễ": To live defiantly, according to one's own principles with scorn for conformity.
  • He chose to live ngạo nghễ, away from the hypocrisy of society. (Anh ta chọn sống ngạo nghễ, xa rời sự giả tạo của xã hội.)
• "Cái chết ngạo nghễ": A death faced with fearless defiance and scorn.
  • The revolutionary met a ngạo nghễ death at the guillotine. (Người cách mạng đón nhận cái chết ngạo nghễ trước máy chém.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngạo mạn (adj): Arrogant, haughty. This word focuses more on contemptuous pride towards others, often without the connotation of defiant courage found in "ngạo nghễ."
• Hiên ngang (adj): Dauntless, upright, and unyielding. This word emphasizes fearless dignity and steadfastness, sharing the defiant spirit of "ngạo nghễ" but usually without the scornful element.

Synonyms

• Haughty: Arrogantly superior and disdainful.
• Defiant: Showing bold disobedience or resistance.
• Scornful: Feeling or expressing contempt or derision.
• Contemptuous: Showing contempt; scornful.

Related Idioms

• "Ngẩng cao đầu ngạo nghễ": To hold one's head high with defiance and scornful pride.
  • Despite the defeat, he walked out ngẩng cao đầu ngạo nghễ. (Bất chấp thất bại, anh ta bước ra ngoài ngẩng cao đầu ngạo nghễ.)

1. tính từ. haughty, scornful