Words / C2

soop-uh-SIL-ee-uh-s/ˌsuːpəˈsɪliəs/

Supercilious means behaving as if you are better than other people; disdainful: a supercilious tone. Scornful is close; arrogant is everyday and broader; condescending stresses talking down. In speech, looking down your nose is the picture. Formal, always unkind as a description. It is manner — a raised eyebrow, a drawl — not expertise itself.

Meaning

Behaving as if you are better than other people; disdainful.

Examples

• “His supercilious tone made the question sound stupid.”
• “His supercilious “if you had read the paper” did not hide that he had skimmed it.”
• “Supercilious silence can be as loud as a put-down.”

Good to know

Looking down the nose; disdainful. Everyday: arrogant. Close: condescending. Manner of superiority, not proof of it.

Near in meaning

disdainful

New