Definition of Haughty
Quick Meaning of Haughty
Showing excessive pride and acting superior to others; contemptuous of people you see as beneath you.
Detailed Definition of Haughty
Arrogantly superior and disdainful in manner or bearing.
How to Pronounce Haughty
Stress pattern: Oo (2-syllable word).
Tip: Stress the first syllable HAW-tee; avoid mispronouncing as HOT-ee.
Watch out: HOT-ee instead of HAW-tee; also mistaken for naughty.
Origin and Etymology of Haughty
From French haut (high), suggesting superiority and elevation above others.
How to Use Haughty in a Sentence
Each example shows “haughty” with a CEFR level so learners can pick examples that match their fluency.
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“Her haughty tone made colleagues uncomfortable during the meeting.”
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“The aristocrat's haughty demeanor concealed deep insecurity.”
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“Despite his haughty criticism, his own work contained obvious flaws.”
Synonyms and Antonyms of Haughty
Common Synonyms for Haughty
Smart Synonyms for Haughty — When to Use Each
- supercilious
- Emphasizes sneering dismissal and contempt.
- lordly
- Stresses aristocratic superiority and noble bearing.
- condescending
- Describes one-on-one dismissive attitude toward others.
Antonyms of Haughty
Common Collocations with Haughty
These phrases pair with “haughty” in everyday English:
- haughty manner
- haughty tone
- haughty attitude
- haughty dismissal
- haughty demeanor
Common Mistakes When Using Haughty
Even fluent speakers slip up with “haughty”. Here’s how to avoid the most common errors:
- ✗ Wrong: She gave a haughty advice to the students.
- ✓ Correct: She gave haughty advice to the students.
- Why: Haughty is an adjective; use without 'a' before abstract nouns.
- ✗ Wrong: His haughtyness made him unpopular.
- ✓ Correct: His haughtiness made him unpopular.
- Why: The noun form is haughtiness, not haughtyness.
- ✗ Wrong: She was haughty him in the meeting.
- ✓ Correct: She was haughty toward him in the meeting.
- Why: Haughty is not a transitive verb; express direction with 'toward' or similar.
Words Confused With Haughty
- Haughty vs Haughty vs. hot: Pronunciation similar; haughty means arrogantly proud, not temperature-related.
- Haughty vs Haughty vs. naughty: Sound similar but mean different things; haughty=proud, naughty=misbehaving.
Other Forms of Haughty
- Noun: haughtiness
- Adjective: haughty
- Adverb: haughtily
Frequently Asked Questions About Haughty
What is the meaning of "Haughty"?
Showing excessive pride and acting superior to others; contemptuous of people you see as beneath you.
How do you pronounce "Haughty"?
The IPA is /ˈhɔːti/. Stress the first syllable HAW-tee; avoid mispronouncing as HOT-ee.
What part of speech is "Haughty"?
"Haughty" is an adjective at C1 level (Common European Framework).
What are synonyms for "Haughty"?
Common synonyms include arrogant, proud, disdainful.
How do you use "Haughty" in a sentence?
For example: "Her haughty tone made colleagues uncomfortable during the meeting."