imperious
Americanadjective
-
domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious person.
an imperious manner;
an imperious person.
- Synonyms:
- arrogant, despotic, tyrannical
- Antonyms:
- submissive
-
imperious need.
- Synonyms:
- necessary
- Antonyms:
- unnecessary
adjective
-
domineering; arrogant; overbearing
-
rare urgent; imperative
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of imperious
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin imperiōsus “commanding, tyrannical,” equivalent to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Someone who is imperious gives orders in a way that shows they feel superior or more important than other people. You might want the smartest kid in the class as your lab partner, but not if they have an imperious attitude and boss you around. Near synonyms are arrogant, overbearing, and domineering. The adjective imperious is from Latin imperiōsus, from imperium "command, supreme power, empire." This Latin word is also the ultimate source of English empire, "a group of countries or territories controlled by a single ruler or one government."
Vocabulary lists containing imperious
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Things Fall Apart
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Grade 10, List 3
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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.
In Gainsborough’s painting Germain looks imperious and impenitent.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Virat Kohli's imperious unbeaten 75 helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League final which secured back-to-back titles.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
He explains why Meryl Streep’s imperious magazine editor in “The Devil Wears Prada” is one of the few female characters in Hollywood to wear glasses in a favorable way.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
He ran afoul of some in the orchestra and of its imperious head, Ernest Fleischmann.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
With an imperious gesture, he snatched the gray cloth off the open flap and gazed downward into the mystery.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
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.
