variants
also hifalutin
1
as in rhetoric
full of fine words and fancy expressions
his highfalutin paean to the working class failed to win over a crowd that wanted to hear down-to-earth proposals for economic relief
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2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
her highfalutin relatives from New York made the snide remark that her little house "has that lived-in look"
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3
as in superior
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
refused to be intimidated by the highfalutin manner of the sales staff in the fashionable boutique
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4
as in smug
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
"fine Southern cuisine" sounds a bit highfalutin for a barbecue shack
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of highfalutin
The general idea is: creative cocktail lounge minus all the highfalutin fuss.
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David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2024
Whitmer makes her case in less than 160 pages with almost no highfalutin language.
—Amanda Uhle, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Offerman brings a great counterpoint to these highfalutin words with his innate buff-dude physicality.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024
The way his vivid, relatable characters discuss the big questions, with so much soul and hang-looseness, free from any highfalutin airs, has long been something of a north star for me as a movie lover and as a talker.
—David Marchese, New York Times, 1 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for highfalutin 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for highfalutin
Adjective
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The arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) then has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student, for better or worse.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
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The truth is that women often downplay their accomplishments to avoid being perceived as arrogant, but this approach can unintentionally undermine your professional growth.Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Woods insisted the product have superior comfort for walking the course and wanted the profile of the shoe as low to the ground as possible to ensure stability, control and feel.Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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The Bureau argues that Google's dominance is not a result of superior products but rather strategic actions designed to eliminate competition.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Yet the people posting vitriolic comments about Thompson feel justified in being smug about the death of this human in particular.Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2024
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If Dani hadn’t shown up looking dreadfully smug, Helen could have gotten on with her morning and done her bit to prevent a war.Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Trump will likely reprise the rhetorical embrace of Egypt that marked his first term, along with a lack of concern for democracy and human rights.Michael Wahid Hanna, Foreign Affairs, 26 Nov. 2024
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That rhetorical strategy is actually what scares me.Sigal Samuel, Vox, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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They have been spotted flying over important infrastructure, like reservoirs, power lines and railroads, in people’s backyards and above highways.Alyce McFadden, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2024
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Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The sculptural number featured a balloon skirt that gathered on one side to reveal a thigh-high slit — a silhouette that would make Carrie Bradshaw very proud.Catherine Santino, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
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The proud papas were already tickled even before the actual proposal.Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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At first, the girls are only in danger of being forced to listen to one man’s extremely pretentious opinions about religion, philosophy, culture, and yes, pop music, which is terrifying in itself.Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024
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Co-founder and master distiller Andy Wahl grew up in wine country, in California’s Sonoma County, and felt that the fine wines harvested in the region were pretentious and inaccessible.John Kell, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The cavalier attitude in public was clearly supposed to be fun and performative, not a parenting choice.Alexandra Bregman, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
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French bulldogs, Boston terriers, cavalier King Charles spaniels and other brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds have become incredibly popular due to their unique appearance.Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/highfalutin. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
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