1
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
only a person of unparalleled presumptuousness would assert that she knows all there is to know about words
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gall
shameless boldness
he found that a certain amount of presumptuousness could get you in trouble, but it could also get you into places where you normally weren't allowed
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Recent Examples of presumptuousness
Optimistic Miami Dolphins fans — assuming there are any left right now; forgive the presumptuousness — could find a way to be (relatively) encouraged coming out of Thursday night’s game.
—
Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presumptuousness
Noun
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This propensity for mental acrobatics, alongside his immense arrogance, was how Epstein rationalized his crimes to himself.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Using him comes across as arrogance.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The ability of the Broncos’ core four pass-rushers up front to win one-on-ones — Cooper, NFL sack leader Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, Franklin-Myers — and the secondary’s ability to win in man coverage on the back-end has given coordinator Vance Joseph the ingredients and the gall of a mad scientist.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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The gall to say that I'm washed?—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Europeans, including Las Casas initially, claimed superiority as Christians, as most of the Africans Europeans encountered were either Muslim or animist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Their innovation is to replace the demagogue’s roar with the bureaucrat’s moral superiority.—
Alexis Coe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As estrogen decreases during menopause, nerves in the hypothalamus — an almond-size region deep inside the brain whose functions include helping regulate the body’s thermostat — become hyperactive and produce an overabundance of chemical signals called neurokinins.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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In these conditions, the gut’s nerves and the brain’s emotion-processing circuits are in unusually close communication.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Even the Boston Police Department had already issued a press statement, written by still another shady cop from Canton, declaring Karen Read guilty as charged – no presumptions of innocence in Norfolk County.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
21 Oct. 2025
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At the same time, every individual is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Misconstrued by many as something akin to an extended Henny Youngman routine, Portnoy’s Complaint more closely resembled, according to Albert Goldman, the comedic world of adolescent Roth and his buddies, with its audacity, ferocity, originality, and sheer fecundity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
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My goodness, was there a sale at the audacity store?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Eddie’s brashness contrasted with Gus’s more reserved nature, but their differences amused one another.—
Rob Rossi,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Macelaru and pianist Grimaud seem to glory in the brashness of them.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presumptuousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presumptuousness. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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