Supercilious
adj. /ˌsuːpəˈsɪliəs/ (سُوپرسِلِیَس)Behaving as though one thinks one is superior to others; haughtily disdainful.
Supercilious Meaning in Urdu
In everyday Urdu, supercilious describes someone whose attitude clearly shows they think they’re better than others.
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1
Showing arrogant superiority and contempt for othersمتکبرانہ، خود کو برتر سمجھنے والا
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2
Having a haughty, dismissive facial expression or mannerحقارت آمیز انداز رکھنے والا
“Supercilious” often describes a facial expression or tone as much as behaviour — a raised eyebrow, a dismissive smile, a condescending glance.
Word Details
| Word | Supercilious |
| Part of Speech | Adjective |
| CEFR Level | C1 |
| Difficulty | Ielts |
| Urdu Meaning | متکبرانہ، حقارت آمیز |
| English Meaning | Behaving with arrogant, contemptuous superiority |
| Pronunciation | /ˌsuːpəˈsɪliəs/ |
| Word Type | Formal, negative adjective |
| Commonness | Common in literary and formal descriptive writing |
Pronunciation
Simple English Explanation
Use “supercilious” for someone whose attitude and expression clearly show they think they’re better than everyone else — a supercilious smirk, a supercilious tone that dismisses others’ opinions without consideration.
اردو وضاحت
“Supercilious” اس شخص کے لیے استعمال ہوتا ہے جو اپنے رویے اور انداز سے ظاہر کرے کہ وہ خود کو دوسروں سے برتر سمجھتا ہے۔
Example Sentences
Synonyms
Nuance: “Arrogant” is broader, covering general excessive self-importance; “supercilious” specifically emphasises a visible, often facial, expression of contempt or superiority toward others.
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Word Family
| Form | Word |
|---|---|
| Adjective | Supercilious |
| Noun | Superciliousness |
| Adverb | Superciliously |
There is no standard verb form of “supercilious” in modern English.
Supercilious vs Condescending
“Condescending” focuses on how someone treats others as inferior, especially by explaining things unnecessarily or talking down to them.
“Supercilious” focuses more on the visible attitude and expression of superiority itself — a look, a tone, a manner — rather than a specific action; the two often appear together, but supercilious is more about bearing and expression.
Common Mistakes
✓ The teacher was patient, carefully explaining each step to help struggling students.
Supercilious implies contempt, not genuine helpfulness.
IELTS Usage
Writing: Useful in Task 2 essays about workplace culture, social class, or interpersonal communication.
Speaking: Works well in Part 2 describing an unpleasant person’s attitude.
Example: “A supercilious management style can quickly damage employee morale and trust.”
MDCAT / Academic Usage
Not scientific vocabulary; occasionally appears in MDCAT English comprehension passages about literature or social behaviour, describing characters or historical figures, not science content.
Word Origin / Etymology
From Latin superciliosus, from supercilium (“eyebrow,” also “pride, haughtiness”), combining super- (above) and cilium (eyelid). The connection to a raised eyebrow of contempt is built into the word’s origin.
Memory Tip
Remember “super-CILIUM” (eyebrow) — a supercilious person raises an eyebrow in contempt, literally looking down on others.
Mini Quiz
1. Meaning of “supercilious”:
2. Correct sentence:
3. Antonym of “supercilious”:
4. The word’s origin relates to:
5. Noun form:
Score: 0 / 5
FAQs
What is the meaning of supercilious in Urdu?
Supercilious means متکبرانہ، حقارت آمیز — behaving as though one thinks one is superior to others.
Is supercilious a noun, verb, or adjective?
Adjective; the noun form is superciliousness and the adverb is superciliously.
What are the synonyms of supercilious?
Haughty, disdainful, arrogant, and condescending — with nuance explained above.
What is the opposite of supercilious?
Humble, respectful, and modest.
What is the difference between supercilious and condescending?
“Condescending” focuses on the action of talking down to others; “supercilious” focuses on the visible attitude or expression of superiority itself.