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self-importance

self-importance

8 6.2
Thinking you are more important than other people
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛlf ɪmˈpɔrtəns/
translation icon : autoimportancia
  • Children these days, so inflated with self-importance, have a hard time making the distinction.
  • sense of self-importance

I mean, the best way to balance your sense of self importance is to have a sense of humor.

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Examples

  • Feeling the fierce sense of self-importance in the teenager's grip, Aria nodded silently.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • "Jason's parents are coming over tomorrow night," I told the girls, hearing the self-importance in my voice.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • I mean, the best way to balance your sense of self importance is to have a sense of humor.

  • I just became his, like his shadow or his mirror, like reflecting his self importance back at him.

  • I really agree with the title of this article; this is "taking self-importance to a new level."

    Blog text (9)
  • Well, I suppose it feeds her starved sense of self-importance.

  • The man gave off self-importance in great crashing waves, and Step had been caught in the undertow.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • "Well," Molly was saying, swelling with self-importance over her newfound knowledge.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Such views, however well-intentioned, are rooted in the old sin of pride and exaggerated self-importance.

    Academic text (1990)
  • He walked into the room full of self-importance, expecting everyone to pay attention to him.

Synonyms

ego
vsself-importance
342 4.5

Feeling that you are more important than other people

is the exaggerated importance feeling while this is a neutral identity term
arrogance
vsself-importance
133 4.8

Being too proud and acting as if you are better than others

is an internal exaggerated view rather than an outward superior attitude
vanity
vsself-importance
56 5.6

Extreme pride in how you look or what you can do

is the general exaggerated worth feeling beyond appearance or achievement focus
snobbery
vsself-importance
  • Offensive
12 6.3

An attitude of thinking you are better than others because of wealth or class

is the broad exaggerated worth feeling without tying to money or class
egotism
vsself-importance
7 6.1

Thinking and talking about yourself too much and feeling better than others

is the general exaggerated belief without the strong need to boast
self-aggrandizement
vsself-importance
  • Formal
4 9.9

Trying to make yourself seem more important or powerful than you are

is the inner exaggerated belief rather than active public promotion
superiority complex
vsself-importance
2 7.2

Feeling that you are better than other people because you think highly of yourself

is the general exaggerated view rather than a psychological pattern
swelled head
vsself-importance
  • Offensive
2 7.4

Thinking you are more important or better than other people

is the same idea but stated more formally or neutrally
pretentiousness
vsself-importance
  • Offensive
2 7.7

Acting like you are more important or more educated than you really are

is an internal exaggerated worth feeling rather than a deliberate show
grandiosity
vsself-importance
  • Specialized
1 7.9

Thinking that you are more important or powerful than others

is a broad exaggerated feeling without very extreme grand claims
egomania
vsself-importance
1 9.1

A very strong focus on yourself and your needs

is the exaggerated importance feeling but not necessarily obsessive or clinical
egocentrism
vsself-importance
1 8.8

Believing your own needs and views are more important than other people's

is the belief of greater worth rather than only centering attention on needs
snobbishness
vsself-importance
  • Offensive
1 7.4

A way of behaving like you are better than other people because of money or class

is a general exaggerated value feeling not limited to social class behavior
snootiness
vsself-importance
1 8.1

A way of behaving that shows you think you are better than other people

is the general exaggerated belief rather than the dismissive social attitude
conceitedness
vsself-importance
7.4

Thinking you are much better or more important than other people

is a broader exaggerated sense rather than mainly proud appearance
bighead tendency
vsself-importance
  • Offensive
8.4

A habit of thinking you are better than other people

is the general exaggerated belief not just a habitual attitude
consequentiality
vsself-importance
9.8

Acting as if you are very important in a way that annoys others

is the basic exaggerated sense rather than the showy behavior itself
self-worship
vsself-importance
8.6

Too much love and praise for yourself that ignores others

is the exaggerated importance feeling but not necessarily devotional adoration
vainness
vsself-importance
6.9

Being too proud of your appearance or abilities

is the broader exaggerated importance feeling not only about looks or skills

Antonyms

105 3.8

Being modest and not thinking you are better than other people

14 3.9

To care more about other people's needs than your own

How Self-Important

arrogance
133 4.8
self-importance
8 6.2
self-regard
2 5.8
modesty
27 3.5
humility
105 3.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

self-importance = self + importance (transparent) = self + importance

Meaning is directly composed from 'self' (oneself) + 'importance' (significance), so learners can deduce 'an exaggerated sense of one's own importance'.

Etymology

Self-importance is made of self- ('one's own') and importance (from important, 'having value'), so it literally means thinking you are more important than others.