Arrogance refers to an exaggerated sense of one's own importance, abilities, or status, often combined with a dismissive attitude toward others. It conveys conceit and self-importance, typically affecting behavior, speech, and decision‑making. The term emphasizes an inflated self-view that can hinder interpersonal sensitivity and collaboration.
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"Her arrogance made it hard for her to accept constructive feedback."
"The politician's arrogance alienated colleagues and voters alike."
"Despite the achievements, his arrogance prevented him from listening to others."
"Arrogance can be a liability in leadership, where empathy is valued."
Arrogance comes from the Middle English arrogant, itself from the Old French arrogance, which derived from the Latin arrogantia, from arrogare ‘to claim for oneself’ (ar‑ ‘toward’ + rogare ‘to ask / to claim’). The Latin root roca or roga indicates “to ask,” in the sense of claiming superiority. The word’s sense shifted in medieval Latin to denote “insolent self-importance.” In English, arrogance was formed in the late 14th to 15th centuries, evolving from legal or rhetorical senses of assertiveness to a negative judgment about someone’s superior attitude. Over time, it acquired the modern connotation of an unwarranted, often irritating, overconfidence that manifests in speech and demeanor. The word has remained closely tied to notions of vanity and presumptuous behavior, reinforcing social norms that value humility and balance in interpersonal relations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "arrogance" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "arrogance"
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Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Break it as /ˈær.ə.ɡəns/. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: AR-uh-guhns. Start with a short, open front vowel /æ/, then a schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with /ɡəns/ where the /ɡ/ is a hard G and the final /ns/ is lightly pronounced. If you’re listening, you’ll hear a quick, clipped first syllable followed by a reduced second syllable and a crisp ending.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying ar‑RUH‑gence. Correct is /ˈær.ə.ɡəns/, with primary stress on the first syllable. (2) Overpronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel, yielding /ˈær.ɔː.ɡəns/ in some British speakers. Use a quick, unstressed /ə/ in the middle: /ˈær.ə.ɡəns/.
In US English, /ˈær.ə.ɡəns/ with a neutral rhotic quality and a compact /ɡən(t)s ending. UK English tends to keep /ˈær.ə.ɡəns/ with a crisper /t/ or light /t/ sometimes, and non-rhotic tendencies may appear in careful speech, though many speakers are rhotic. Australian English mirrors US but often with slightly higher vowel height in the first /æ/ and a more centralized /ə/ in the middle. Overall, the core /ˈær.ə.ɡəns/ remains, with minor vowel quality shifts.
Because it packs three syllables with a stressed first syllable and a forceful /ɡ/ followed by a nasal /ən/ and final /s/. The middle /ə/ (schwa) is quick and may blur in rapid speech, making it easy to misplace stress or vowel length. Practice linking: /ˈær.ə/ + /ɡəns/ to keep the rhythm natural and avoid overemphasizing the middle vowel.
Note the final cluster /ɡəns/: the /ɡ/ blends into a lightly pronounced /ə/ before the /ns/. Many non-native speakers soften /ɡ/ to /dʒ/ or mispronounce /ən/. Focus on keeping the /ɡ/ solid, then release into the nasal /ns/ without adding extra vowel length. IPA helps: /ˈær.ə.ɡəns/.
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