uppity

[ uhp-i-tee ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. affecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; haughty; snobbish.
2. rebelliously self-assertive; not inclined to be tractable or deferential.

uppity

/ ˈʌpɪtɪ /

adjective

1. not yielding easily to persuasion or control
2. another word for uppish

Other Words From

• uppi·ty·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of uppity¹

1875–80, Americanism; probably up + -ity, extended form of -y ¹; pernickety

Word History and Origins

Origin of uppity¹

from up + fanciful ending, perhaps influenced by -ity

Example Sentences

These Pelmatops and other kinds of stalk-eyed flies face off, eyestalk to eyestalk, with uppity intruders.

From Science News

You know: I am to intone that these pundits think of Obama as an “uppity Negro.”

From The Daily Beast

They say, “Love the way you dealt with that uppity teenager!”

From The Daily Beast

Conservatives really seem to hate it when uppity women—damn that pesky economic empowerment!

From The Daily Beast

These comments about Kagan are part of a long tradition of taking down uppity women.

From The Daily Beast

MSNBC host Chris Matthews felt at ease, on national television, referring to a woman as “ she devil,” “ witchy,” and “ uppity.”

From The Daily Beast

We ought to beat hershell get too uppity to live with, declared Bobby, discussing these games.

From Project Gutenberg

Juniper was a sight more uppity than Rosaotherwise she wouldnt have flew the coop, said Bob Wildwood, shaking his head.

From Project Gutenberg

So Mars' Colby had ter let dat uppity yaller gal go ahead an' do her worstest.

From Project Gutenberg

Den, how come you talk so uppity, like a man wid de law on he side and ain't a-scared o' nobody?

From Project Gutenberg

"Sounds very uppity to me," she said with a humorous glance at her own ancient gown.

From Project Gutenberg

About This Word

More context on uppity

Uppity means “haughty” and “snobbish”—an adjective for someone who puts on airs, someone who is self-important. But, this descriptor has a very racist past, used particularly to disparage Black people as “not remembering their place as inferior.”

Given this explicitly racist past, it is a good idea to cut down on using uppity. Read our next section for some wise alternatives.

If knowing the history of uppity has got you reflecting on your word choices, this slideshow, “These Common Words Have Offensive Histories,” discusses many other words whose place in your vocab you may want to reconsider. 

Keep in mind …

There are plenty of alternatives to the problematic uppity. Besides haughty, snobbish, self-important, and putting on airs as noted above, such words as arrogant, snooty, pompous, smug, vain, and high and mighty can convey being overproud like uppity.

You can find even more synonyms at Thesaurus.com. We suggest you start with the adjective proud.