soi-disant

Examples

• All

• He married money (and therefore influence) and is a soi-disant doyen.

  Blog text (13)

• Even if we turn to the world of experts and soi-disant experts, we find plentiful confirmation of Italy failing to keep up in the field of research and study of African objects.

  Academic text (2010)

• The acts of which you complain were directed against a certain soi-disant quadroon, who, in his turn, no longer exists (103).

  Academic text (2018)

• This is not difficult; it doesn't take a lawyer, a SCOTUS justice, or a soi-disant 'Constitutional scholar' to figure it out (usually incorrectly).

  Blog text (8)

• The soi-disant expert claimed he could solve any problem, but his lack of credentials proved otherwise.

• At the conference, several soi-disant leaders spoke about change, but few had real influence in their communities.

• Despite calling herself a soi-disant artist, her work had not gained any recognition in the gallery scene.

Synonyms

S

so-called

vssoi-disant

673 5.0

Showing doubt about a name or title

refers to someone who claims or styles themselves but suggests lack of justification

S

self-proclaimed

vssoi-disant

27 5.8

A person who says they are an expert or leader without people's acceptance

covers both claiming and styling oneself, not only formal claims

S

self-styled

vssoi-disant

9 7.3

A person who calls themselves an expert without official authority

focuses on claiming or styling oneself rather than being recognized officially

How Legitimate

alleged

• Literature

3 4.2

soi-disant

• Formal

9.9

self-proclaimed

27 5.8

so-called

673 5.0

Surface Forms

Etymology