overweening

over·ween·ing

adj \-ˈwē-niŋ\

Definition of OVERWEENING

1

: arrogant, presumptuous

2

: immoderate, exaggerated

— over·ween·ing·ly adverb

Examples of OVERWEENING

1. <a director who has little patience for overweening actors who think they are above taking advice and criticism>
2. <overweening desire for wealth and fame>

Origin of OVERWEENING

Middle English overwening, present participle of overwenen to be arrogant, from over + wenen to ween

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to OVERWEENING

Synonyms: assured, biggety (or biggity) [Southern & Midland], bigheaded, complacent, consequential, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), important, conceited, pompous, prideful, proud, self-conceited, self-important, self-opinionated, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, swellheaded, vain, vainglorious

Antonyms: egoless, humble, modest, uncomplacent

Related Words: blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering; arrogant, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, lofty, lordly, masterful, peremptory, pontifical, self-asserting, self-assertive, snobbish, snobby, snooty, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity; domineering, high-handed, imperious; highfalutin (also hifalutin), holier-than-thou, pretentious; overconfident, presuming, presumptuous; confident, self-assured, self-confident; self-adulatory, self-congratulatory, self-contented, self-gratulatory; self-applauding, self-dramatizing, self-glorifying, self-promoting; self-affected, self-centered, self-engrossed, selfish; condescending, patronizing

Near Antonyms: diffident, self-critical, self-distrustful, self-doubting, self-reproachful, self-reproving; meek, timid, unassertive; down-to-earth, unarrogant, unassuming, unpretentious; bashful, demure, introverted, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, retiring, sheepish, shrinking, shy

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