supercilious
Say it: soo-puh-SIL-ee-us /ˌsuːpəˈsɪlɪəs/ · adjective
What “supercilious” means
Showing that you think you are better than others.
More precisely: Behaving as if you think you are superior to others.
When to use it
When someone's look or manner suggests sneering superiority. A formal, strongly critical description of how they treat others.
Memory trick
Latin supercilium means eyebrow: picture a raised eyebrow looking down on someone.
Similar words
haughty, condescending, disdainful
Where it comes from
From Latin supercilium, 'eyebrow' — think of a raised, disdainful brow.
Quick check
When you ask a beginner's question, the instructor raises an eyebrow and smirks as though you're beneath him. He's…
supercilious or sceptical?
Show the answer
supercilious
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