Conceited vs. Arrogant — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Conceited refers to an excessive self-pride or vanity, while arrogant describes a behavior of superiority combined with a lack of respect for others.
Difference Between Conceited and Arrogant
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Conceited individuals focus excessively on their own abilities or appearance, often with an unjustified sense of superiority. In contrast, arrogant people not only overestimate their importance but also tend to belittle others.
Conceit is rooted in self-admiration, where one's own qualities are the focal point. Arrogance, however, extends beyond self-love to an overt disregard or disrespect for others.
Conceited behavior can manifest as vanity or self-obsession. Arrogance is characterized by an imposing attitude and a lack of empathy or consideration for others' feelings or opinions.
While conceit is often inward-looking, arrogance typically involves outward expressions of superiority and often an offensive demeanor towards others.
Both conceit and arrogance are viewed negatively, but arrogance is often considered more offensive due to its dismissive attitude towards others, as opposed to the self-focused nature of conceit.
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Self-centered, focused on oneself
Sense of superiority over others
Behavior Manifestation
Vanity, self-obsession
Dismissive, disrespectful attitude
Relation to Others
Mostly inward-looking
Often involves belittling others
Root Cause
Excessive self-love
Overbearing sense of importance
Social Perception
Seen as vain or self-absorbed
Viewed as offensive, lacking empathy
Compare with Definitions
Conceited
Excessively proud of oneself.
His conceited attitude made him constantly brag about his achievements.
Arrogant
Domineering and imposing one's views on others.
Her arrogant attitude in negotiations caused tension.
Conceited
Preoccupied with oneself, ignoring others.
Her conceited nature made it hard for her to appreciate her friends' successes.
Arrogant
Displaying a sense of superiority.
His arrogant dismissal of other's ideas was off-putting.
Conceited
Having an inflated sense of self-importance.
Despite his average performance, he was conceited about his skills.
Arrogant
Showing a lack of respect towards others.
The teacher's arrogant behavior towards students was unacceptable.
Conceited
Excessively proud of oneself; vain
Fred's so conceited he'd never believe anyone would refuse him
Arrogant
Showing contempt or disrespect for others.
The manager's arrogant tone made the employees feel undervalued.
Conceited
Holding or characterized by an unduly high opinion of oneself; vain.
Arrogant
Having or displaying excessive pride in oneself or an excessive sense of self-importance.
Conceited
Having an excessively favourable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc.; egotistical and vain.
Arrogant
Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority over others
An arrogant contempt for the weak.
Conceited
Having an ingenious expression or metaphorical idea, especially in extended form or used as a literary or rhetorical device.
Arrogant
Having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt or disrespect for others.
Conceited
(obsolete) Endowed with fancy or imagination.
Arrogant
Making, or having the disposition to make, exorbitant claims of rank or estimation; giving one's self an undue degree of importance; assuming; haughty; - applied to persons.
Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate.
Conceited
(obsolete) Curiously contrived or designed; fanciful.
Arrogant
Containing arrogance; marked with arrogance; proceeding from undue claims or self-importance; - applied to things; as, arrogant pretensions or behavior.
Conceited
Simple past tense and past participle of conceit
Arrogant
Having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride;
An arrogant official
Arrogant claims
Chesty as a peacock
Conceited
Endowed with fancy or imagination.
He was . . . pleasantly conceited, and sharp of wit.
Arrogant
Insensitive to others' feelings or opinions.
His arrogant remarks hurt his colleagues' feelings.
Conceited
Entertaining a flattering opinion of one's self; vain.
If you think me too conceitedOr to passion quickly heated.
Conceited of their own wit, science, and politeness.
Conceited
Curiously contrived or designed; fanciful.
A conceited chair to sleep in.
Conceited
Characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance;
A conceited fool
An attitude of self-conceited arrogance
An egotistical disregard of others
So swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty
Growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary
Vain about her clothes
Conceited
Obsessed with one's own appearance or abilities.
The conceited actor wouldn't stop looking at himself in the mirror.
Conceited
Overly concerned with oneself, often ignoring others.
His conceited comments during meetings showed his lack of team spirit.
Common Curiosities
What does arrogant mean?
Arrogant describes someone who displays a sense of superiority and often disrespects others.
What does conceited mean?
Conceited refers to having an excessive or unjustified pride in oneself.
Can conceited and arrogant be used interchangeably?
While similar, they have nuances; conceited focuses on self-love, arrogant on superiority over others.
Is being conceited always negative?
Yes, it's generally seen as a negative trait due to its self-centered nature.
Does arrogance imply disrespect?
Often, yes. Arrogance usually includes a dismissive or disdainful attitude towards others.
How is arrogance perceived in social situations?
Typically negatively, as it often involves belittling or disrespecting others.
Are there positive aspects to being conceited?
Generally, no. It's viewed as an excessive and unjustified form of self-love.
Can conceit be mistaken for confidence?
Sometimes, but conceit goes beyond confidence into the realm of self-obsession.
Can a conceited person also be arrogant?
Yes, it's possible for someone to exhibit both traits.
Is conceit only about appearance?
Not necessarily; it can also be about one's abilities or achievements.
Can arrogance lead to conflicts?
Yes, arrogant behavior can cause misunderstandings and conflicts.
Is conceited behavior easy to spot?
Often, especially if the person frequently brags or is overly self-focused.
Is arrogance a personality trait?
It can be, though it's also influenced by behavior and attitude.
Do arrogant people lack empathy?
They might, as arrogance often involves insensitivity to others' feelings.
Can conceited or arrogant behavior be changed?
Yes, with self-awareness and effort, people can work on modifying these traits.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
