Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Characteristic of a snob: Having or showing the attitude of people who believe they are superior to others, especially in matters of taste, intellect, or social status, and who look down on those they consider inferior.
   • Exclusive and condescending: Befitting someone who is overly concerned with social rank, wealth, or prestige and who rejects or rebuffs people perceived as lower in status.

Usage

The adjective "snobbish" describes a person's character, attitude, or behavior. It is used to criticize someone for being arrogant, exclusive, and overly focused on perceived superiority. It often modifies nouns like "person," "attitude," "behavior," or "tone."

Examples

• Describing a person:
  • She was criticized for her snobbish remarks about people who don't attend the opera.
  • He comes across as snobbish because he only talks to people from certain schools.
• Describing an attitude or behavior:
  • The club has a snobbish policy that excludes anyone without a referral.
  • I find his taste in wine to be rather snobbish and pretentious.

Advanced Usage

• "to be snobbish about something": To act superior regarding a particular subject or area.
  • He's terribly snobbish about coffee and will only drink single-origin beans.
• Used in comparative and superlative forms: "more snobbish," "most snobbish."
  • The members of the newer club are even more snobbish than the old ones.

Variants and Related Words

• Snob (n): A person with snobbish attitudes.
  • He's such a snob about classical music.
• Snobbishly (adv): In a snobbish manner.
  • She snobbishly dismissed the popular film as trivial.
• Snobbishness (n): The quality or state of being snobbish.
  • The snobbishness of the establishment was off-putting.

Synonyms

• Elitist: Relating to or supporting the idea that a society or system should be led by an elite.
• Haughty: Arrogantly superior and disdainful.
• Pretentious: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
• Supercilious: Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.

Antonyms

• Humble: Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
• Unpretentious: Not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed.
• Down-to-earth: Practical and realistic.

Idioms and Phrases

• "To have a snobbish streak": To have a tendency to be snobbish.
  • Despite his friendly nature, he has a snobbish streak when it comes to literature.
• "A snobbish turn of the nose": A metaphorical description of a dismissive, condescending reaction.
  • She met his suggestion with a snobbish turn of the nose.

Adjective

1. befitting or characteristic of those who incline to social exclusiveness and who rebuff the advances of people considered inferior