cavalier 1 of 2

adjective

ˌka-və-ˈlir How to pronounce cavalier (audio)
Definition of cavaliernext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cavalier

2 of 2

noun

as in gentleman
an honorable and courteous man a novel about the dashing cavaliers and gracious ladies of the South before the Civil War

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Rice closed in eventually and the heckler wasn't as cavalier. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 And the league seemingly demonstrated its frustration with the increasingly cavalier attitude of players toward the ASG in its proposal to the union about possible participation in the 2028 Olympics. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 15 July 2026 Later, in a conference room, Pathak and Gupta explained that their seemingly cavalier attitude toward robot welfare was actually motivated by concern for human safety. — Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 The Nuggets were particularly cavalier with second-rounders in the 2024 offseason, which turned out to be Booth’s last at the helm. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cavalier
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cavalier
  1. arrogant
  2. gentleman
  3. superior
  4. pompous
Adjective
  • Each of these decisions laid the groundwork for the war on Iran today, one that started without a clear strategy on the arrogant expectation of a quick victory.
    — Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The data center industry is only one face of an arrogant oligarchy that people believe now runs Congress, the courts, the White House, state legislatures and local governments.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Noun
  • Damaging information on Metcalf was also withheld from trial as a result of the gentlemen’s agreement.
    — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • What the story is actually about almost doesn’t matter — just enjoy the quiet luxury of it all, with the ever-endearing Fabrice Luchini in the lead doing yet another bumbling, bourgeois gentleman of a certain age.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of gentleman
Adjective
  • Parton’s ability to become the harasser without falling into some version of male drag makes this short sequence far superior to the many films with a similar premise that followed.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • With Hoecht looking like a certainty to be healthy enough for Week 1, Danna may be on the outside looking in, as Solomon is the superior special teams player.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of superior
Adjective
  • Does little Arabella care about going to another stuffy awards dinner with her pompous dad?
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
  • Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of pompous

Browse Nearby Words

cavalcades
cavalier
cavaliers
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Cavalier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cavalier. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cavalier

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cavalier

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All