overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.
an overbearing supervisor
supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.
an aloof and supercilious manner
disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.
disdainful of their social inferiors
Example Sentences
Tim Blixseth, the founder of the Yellowstone Club and other gated hideaways, tells Frank: "I don't like most rich people. They can be arrogant." This from a man who owns two Shih Tzus named Learjet and G2. Alex Beam, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 2007Arrogant execs are not the only targets of investors' ire. … There's no telling how much money analysts such as Meeker cost investors with their interminable buy recommendations on Internet stocks that eventually went bust. Marcia Vickers et al., Business Week, 25 Feb. 2002Despite her social and business status in Washington, Graham remained unassuming and down to earth. Her quiet but steady courage affirmed women such as Geneva Overhosler, a former editor and Post ombudsman, by showing a woman could be powerful without being arrogant. Mark Fitzgerald et al., Editor & Publisher, 23 July 2001Shakespeare must have known that while his audiences loved to see villains punished and arrogant young men humbled, they did not want to fidget and squirm through mea culpas before the final scene. Elaine Showalter, Civilization, April/May 1999 She's first in her class, but she's not arrogant about it. the arrogant young lawyer elbowed his way to the head of the line of customers, declaring that he was too busy to wait like everybody else See More
Recent Examples on the WebPlaying a classic villain like the arrogant, chauvinist and murderous Gaston was an opportunity for Penny to showcase a different ability while stepping into a character utterly different from himself. Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Tesla issued a humbling apology last year after a driver at an auto show publicly blamed Tesla brakes for an accident, after which China’s top legal-affairs agency chimed in, calling the company arrogant. Kim Mackrael, WSJ, 10 May 2022 And those who think it’s crazy, or arrogant, at first, usually will come around. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 On some level, Luke had perceived the failure of the Jedi, their recourse to dogmatism and arrogant all-knowingness, and sought to break the pattern.Wired, 14 July 2022 After years of experimentation, brilliant but arrogant scientist Sebastian Caine has discovered a way to make matter invisible. Travis Bean, Forbes, 1 July 2022 The charismatic — and arrogant — Charles has agreed to the interview only if Cecily makes the climb all the way to the top with him and his team.Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2022 This is Cruise at his most Cruise-iest, coiled, sure and arrogant, teeth gleaming in the sunshine. Mark Kennedy, Chron, 12 May 2022 Narrow-minded, rigid, short-sighted, arrogant and narcissistic leaders are the opposite of conscious leaders. Albana Vrioni, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English arrogant, arragaunt, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin arrogant-, arrogans "insolent, overbearing, presumptuous," from present participle of arrogāre "to lay claim to, claim to possess, be conceited" — more at arrogate