vainglorious

/vein'glɔ:riəs/

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Word: Vainglorious

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Vainglorious describes someone who is excessively proud of their own achievements or qualities. This person often boasts about themselves and thinks they are better than others. It's like having an inflated sense of self-importance.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "vainglorious" to describe a person's attitude or behavior, especially when they seem arrogant or overly proud.
• It is typically used in a negative or critical context.

Example Sentence:

• "Despite his talent, he became vainglorious and started bragging about his success to everyone."

Advanced Usage:

In literature or formal writing, "vainglorious" can be used to describe characters who are overly self-satisfied, often leading to their downfall.

Word Variants:

• Vainglory (noun): The quality of being vainglorious; excessive pride in one's achievements.
  • Example: "Her vainglory made it hard for her to accept criticism."
• Vaingloriously (adverb): In a manner that shows excessive pride.
  • Example: "He vaingloriously recounted his victories."

Different Meaning:

While "vainglorious" specifically refers to excessive pride, it can be related to other concepts like vanity or narcissism, which also involve self-importance.

Synonyms:

• Arrogant
• Conceited
• Prideful
• Boastful
• Hubristic

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Full of oneself": This idiom means to be very self-satisfied or arrogant, similar to being vainglorious.

  • Example: "He's so full of himself since he won the award."

• "Swelled head": This phrase describes someone who has an inflated sense of their own worth, akin to being vainglorious.

  • Example: "After his promotion, he walked around with a swelled head."

Summary:

In summary, "vainglorious" is used to describe someone who is overly proud and self-important. It is often seen negatively and can be used in various contexts to highlight arrogance.

Academic

Adjective

1. feeling self-importance
   • too big for his britches
   • had a swelled head
   • he was swelled with pride

Synonyms

• big
• swelled