imperious

UK: /ɪmˈpɪəriəs/ US: /ɪmˈpɪriəs/ ,(im pēr′ē əs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pe•ri•ous /ɪmˈpɪriəs/   adj. 

1. domineering;
   having a manner of acting that looks down at others:
   The vice-president's imperious manner annoyed her subordinates.

im•pe•ri•ous•ly, adv.: 

She gestured imperiously at me to leave her room.

im•pe•ri•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pe•ri•ous  (im pēr′ē əs), adj. 

1. domineering in a haughty manner;
   dictatorial;
   overbearing:
   an imperious manner; an imperious person.
2. urgent;
   imperative:
   imperious need.

• Latin imperiōsus commanding, tyrannical, equivalent. to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous
• 1535–45

im•pe′ri•ous•ly, adv. 
im•pe′ri•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. tyrannical, despotic, arrogant.
• 2. necessary.

Antonyms

• 1. submissive.
• 2. unnecessary.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

imperious / ɪmˈpɪərɪəs/ adjective

1. domineering; arrogant; overbearing
2. urgent; imperative

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin imperiōsus from imperium command, power

imˈperiously adverb

imˈperiousness noun