adjective
imperious
im-PEER-ee-us/ɪmˈpɪriəs/
Demanding obedience with overbearing authority.
The imperious woman orders her colleague to retrieve the dropped folder.
Etymology
From imperium, meaning command or power, the adjective described someone commanding or mighty. Applied to personal behavior, that commanding quality becomes domineering: treating others as though entitled to their obedience.
In context
In fact, I forbid it. If you come to my house you must control yourself to my wish!' Then with a stately bow, whose imperious distance inflamed him more than ever
More examples
- His imperious tone makes even a simple request sound like an order.
- With an imperious wave, she dismisses everyone's objections.
- The new manager is too imperious to accept advice from her staff.
Forms
imperious · more imperious · most imperious
imperiously adverb — In an arrogantly commanding or domineering way.
imperiousness noun — The quality of arrogantly expecting obedience.
Similar words
- domineering
- Emphasizes controlling other people rather than simply expecting obedience.
- authoritarian
- Emphasizes enforcing strict obedience and limiting other people's freedom.
- bossy
- More informal; emphasizes giving frequent, unwanted orders to others.