Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or showing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or value: Describes a person who behaves as if they are more significant, powerful, or knowledgeable than they truly are, often in an annoying or pompous manner.

Usage

• The word "self-important" is used to describe a person's character, attitude, or behavior. It is a critical term, implying that the person's sense of importance is unjustified or excessive. It often modifies nouns like , , , , or .

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The new manager was so self-important that he refused to listen to any suggestions from his team.
  • She dismissed his self-important speech with a wave of her hand.
  • His self-important attitude made it difficult for others to work with him.

Advanced Usage

• "to be/become self-important": to have or develop an inflated sense of one's own importance.
  • After the promotion, he became rather self-important.
• "self-important posturing": behaving in a way intended to impress others and convey a sense of self-importance.
  • The debate was full of self-important posturing rather than substantive discussion.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-importance (n): The quality or state of being self-important.
  • His self-importance was evident in every decision he made.
• Self-importantly (adv): In a self-important manner.
  • He strode self-importantly into the room.

Synonyms

• Arrogant: Having an exaggerated sense of one's own abilities or importance.
• Pompous: Affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important.
• Conceited: Excessively proud of oneself; vain.
• Haughty: Arrogantly superior and disdainful.

Antonyms

• Humble: Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
• Modest: Unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.
• Unassuming: Not pretentious or arrogant; modest.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Full of oneself": Very self-important or conceited.
  • Ever since he won the award, he's been completely full of himself.
• "To have a swelled/big head": To be conceited or self-important.
  • All that praise has given him a swelled head.

Adjective

1. having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride
   • an arrogant official
   • arrogant claims
   • chesty as a peacock