supercilious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- superciliously adverb
- superciliousness noun
- unsupercilious adjective
- unsuperciliously adverb
- unsuperciliousness noun
Etymology
Origin of supercilious
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin superciliōsus; supercilium, -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most memorable is the exit of Pozzo and Lucky that finds Pozzo slowly pushing Lucky in his wheelchair—illustrating the idea that there remains a bedrock of humanity even in this supercilious boor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 29, 2025
He writes like a supercilious bully, throwing a tantrum on the page when confronted with a policy or argument he dislikes.
From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025
He accused her comments of being "supercilious lectures from someone who thinks they are superior on these issues".
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2025
LB has few prospects — and certainly is not interested in pompous developer Darcy Wong, who is as supercilious as he is wealthy.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2023
The innkeeper glanced from his paper and gave us a supercilious up-and-down look.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
