Arrogant describes someone who has an exaggerated sense of their own importance, often coupled with a disdainful attitude toward others. It usually implies a smug or haughty demeanor, and a belief that one is superior. The term conveys judgmental overconfidence and a lack of humility in social or professional contexts.
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"Her arrogant remarks offended the team and undermined collaboration."
"Despite his achievements, he remained grounded and avoided arrogant displays."
"The manager learned that arrogant behavior could derail a promising project."
"The judge warned against arrogant assumptions that could bias the verdict."
Arrogant comes from Middle English araggant, from Old French arrogant, from Latin arrogans, arrogantis, present participle of arrogare, meaning to demand something for oneself, presume, or claim. The root ar- means toward or to, while rogare means to ask, in the sense of claiming or asserting. The semantic development traces from “to claim or assert” to a characterization of people who presume superiority. By the 14th century, arrogant had entered English with the sense of an ostentatious or overbearing display of self-importance. Over time, it retained the core idea of unearned superiority while expanding into social behavior (snobbishness, disdain, dismissiveness). The word’s usage has fluctuated with cultural norms about humility and status; in modern usage, arrogant is often used pejoratively to describe people who exhibit excessive self-regard in personal or professional settings. The term is typical of Romance-language borrowings into English during the high- and late-medieval periods, reflecting a cross-cultural emphasis on social hierarchy and personal dignity.
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Words that rhyme with "arrogant"
-ant sounds
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Arrogant is pronounced with three syllables: /ˈær.əˌɡænt/ in many dialects, stress on the first syllable. Break it as AR-uh-guhnt, with the middle /ə/ as a schwa and the final /ænt/ as in 'ant'. In careful speech, you may emphasize the first syllable strongly and keep a light secondary stress on the second/third portion. Listen for a crisp /g/ before the final /ænt/.
Common errors include swallowing the /r/ or misplacing the stress, leading to /ˈær.əˈɡænt/ or /ˈærr.əˌɡent/. Some speakers run the vowels together, turning /ˈær.ə.ɡənt/ into /ˈær.əɡənt/ with reduced clarity. Also, the final consonant cluster /nt/ can be weakened to /n/ or devoiced to /t/ without sharp termination. Correction tips: clearly articulate /ɹ/ in American English, maintain a clean schwa for /ə/, and snap the /t/ at the end for a crisp finish.
US tends to have rhotic /ɹ/ and a clearer /ɡ/ before the final /ænt/, with a stressed first syllable /ˈær/. UK often uses a slightly shorter /ˈæ.rə.ɡənt/ with a non-rhotic /r/ and a more centralized middle vowel; AU can blend the middle syllable, maintaining /ˈæɹəɡənt/ but often with a flatter intonation and a stronger final alveolar stop. Across all, the crucial elements are the stressed initial vowel /æ/ or /ær/ and the final /ænt/ vs /ənt/.
The difficulty lies in balancing the short, tense initial /æ/ with the mid schwa /ə/ in the middle and the crisp, final /nt/. English phonotactics force a quick transition between a front lax vowel and a nasal + voiceless stop cluster /-ənt/. Misplacing stress or smoothing the middle vowel can obscure the three-syllable rhythm. Focusing on precise syllable timing and crisp /t/ at the end helps maintain articulation accuracy.
Yes. The first syllable typically carries the /ær/ as in 'are' or 'air' in American pronunciations, forming /ˈær.ə.ɡənt/. The 'ar' cluster starts with a low, open front vowel /æ/ plus a rhotic-less or rhotic /ɹ/ depending on accent. In non-rhotic UK speech you might hear /ˈæː.rə.ɡənt/ with a less pronounced /r/. The key is the short, open-front starting vowel and immediate follow-through to a light /ə/ before /ɡ/.
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