Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

imperious

/ɪmˈpɪɹ.i.əs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.66 in modern English

Syllables: im-pe-ri-ous
IPA: /ɪmˈpɪɹ.i.əs/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Domineering, arrogant, or overbearing.

adj

Urgent; intensely compelling.

adj

Imperial or regal.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"The frowning lookes of fiery Tamburlaine, That with his terrour and imperious eies, Commands the hearts of his aſſociates, […]"
"[…] she glanced about her in an imperious, challenging sort of way, with looks and gestures that clearly were unstudied."
"She was quick, beautiful, imperious, while he was quiet, slow, and misty."
"I had travelled one morning down to Aylesbury, and had left my train, and was about to cross the footbridge, when I heard the imperious whistle of a "B1." I paused, and round the bend came the "Master Cutler" with its engine working absolutely flat out."
"“Hey, sir? Sir, excuse me?” The blonde was calling out to him, in imperious tones that insisted on a reply."
"Saliba, meanwhile, has returned to Arsenal looking like the finished article after the 21-year-old France defender spent loan spells at Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille. He has been imperious since the opening game at Brentford, establishing a formidable partnership with Gabriel."

Etymology

From Latin imperiōsus (“mighty, powerful”), from imperium (“command, authority, power”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪmˈpɪɹ.i.əs/
British English: /ɪmˈpɪə̯.ɹi.əs/

Usage

Obsolete

Derived Forms

imperiously imperiousness unimperious

Frequently Paired Words

imperial imperialism imperialistic imperially imperialness imperium

Synonyms

authoritarian bossy dictatorial domineering overbearing disdainful haughty lordly prideful sniffy supercilious swaggering

Rhymes With

serious mysterious delirious deleterious tiberius nereus

Questions

How do you pronounce imperious?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɪɹ.i.əs/.
What does imperious mean?: Domineering, arrogant, or overbearing.
Where does imperious come from?: From Latin imperiōsus (“mighty, powerful”), from imperium (“command, authority, power”).

How to pronounce imperious

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “imperious”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪmˈpɪɹ.i.əs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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