cavalier 1 of 2

as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude a cavalier and pompous boss, indifferent to the feelings of her subordinates

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cavalier

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cavalier
Adjective
The present-day iteration is a lot less cavalier, with gun safety being the organization’s top priority and disqualifications happening even for seemingly minor infractions. Calum Marsh Bridget Bennett, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Mainstream outlets shouldn’t be so cavalier about maintaining their credibility. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
What is unique, however, is the way TikTok and its outside consultants are handling this material—an approach experts say is ham-handed and cavalier at best, and harmful and re-traumatizing at worst. Alexandra S. Levine, Forbes, 4 Aug. 2022 Finally, to call Alito’s assessment of the ruling’s consequences for women cavalier would be charitable. Sue Halpern, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022 See All Example Sentences for cavalier
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cavalier
Adjective
  • Richard was known for being outspoken, if not arrogant, consistently rubbing his Tagi tribe the wrong way and offending some of them with his blatant display of nudity on the island.
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
  • Multiple people described him to me as unpopular and arrogant.
    Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Both gentlemen are pumped for the respective task ahead, especially one that involves the super stringent world of Formula 1.
    Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • In what seems like a parody of a ritual that exists mostly in the imagination of cartoonists, the proposal requires the gentleman to be on his knees offering an astonished lady a box containing a ring.
    Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cavalier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cavalier. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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