Definition

Adjective: * Having an excessively high opinion of oneself; arrogant and conceited. It describes a person who is overly proud of their own abilities, achievements, or importance.

Usage

The term "swollen-headed" is a compound adjective used to describe a person's character or attitude. It is typically used in a critical or disapproving way. * It is often used predictively (after a linking verb like be, become, act). * It can also be used attributively (before a noun).

Examples

• After winning the award, he became insufferably swollen-headed and ignored his old friends.
• The manager's swollen-headed attitude made the workplace unpleasant for everyone.
• Don't get swollen-headed just because you got a promotion.

Advanced Usage

• The term is hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., a celebrity). It may sometimes be written without a hyphen when used predictively.
• It is a more vivid and informal synonym for words like or , with the imagery of one's head literally swelling with pride.

Variants and Related Words

• Swollen head (noun phrase): The state of being conceited.
  • His recent success gave him a swollen head.
• Swell-headed (adjective): An alternative, less common spelling with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Conceited
• Arrogant
• Egotistical
• Vain
• Haughty
• Pompous

Antonyms

• Humble
• Modest
• Unassuming

Idioms and Related Phrases

• To have a big head: An informal idiom with a very similar meaning to being swollen-headed.
  • Ever since she got famous, she's had a really big head.
• To be full of oneself: Another idiom describing excessive self-importance.
  • He's so full of himself since he got the new job.

Adjective

1. characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
   • a conceited fool
   • an attitude of self-conceited arrogance
   • an egotistical disregard of others
   • so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty
   • growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary
   • vain about her clothes