imperious

CEFRC1

/ɪmˈpɪə̯.ɹi.əs/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Expecting obedience in a proud way.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Imperial or regal.

Examples

  • She gave commands in a loud and imperious tone.

  • The imperious tone was off-putting.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Urgent; intensely compelling.

  2. Domineering, arrogant, or overbearing.

More examples

In context

  • The queen's imperious demeanor commanded respect.

  • […] she glanced about her in an imperious, challenging sort of way, with looks and gestures that clearly were unstudied.

  • The frowning lookes of fiery Tamburlaine, That with his terrour and imperious eies, Commands the hearts of his aſſociates, […]

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank nobleman ordered his servants around with a loud, demanding voice all day.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Latin imperiōsus (“mighty, powerful”), from imperium (“command, authority, power”).