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View synonyms for bumptious

bumptious

[ buhmp-shuhs ]

adjective

  1. offensively self-assertive:

    a bumptious young upstart.

    Synonyms: brash, cheeky, cocky, forward, pushy



bumptious

/ ˈbʌmpʃəs /

adjective

  1. offensively self-assertive or conceited
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈbumptiously, adverb
  • ˈbumptiousness, noun
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Other Words From

  • bumptious·ly adverb
  • bumptious·ness noun
  • over·bumptious adjective
  • over·bumptious·ly adverb
  • over·bumptious·ness noun
  • un·bumptious adjective
  • un·bumptious·ly adverb
  • un·bumptious·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bumptious1

First recorded in 1795–1805; bump + (frac)tious
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bumptious1

C19: perhaps a blend of bump + fractious
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Example Sentences

Watson later tried to buddy up to Wilkins at a cocktail party, but the socially awkward Wilkins did his best to avoid the bumptious American.

Bumptious little man, and yet—and yet there's something in him.

The court was thrown into amazement, and even Bumptious quailed before the fist of the mighty Jorrocks.

She was always—not exactly proud like, but what I calls Bumptious.

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More About Bumptious

Where does bumptious come from?

For as fun as the word bumptious sounds, its meaning is more forceful. Bumptious is recorded in the late 1790s and is a blend of bump and fractious, meaning “unruly” or “irritable.” Bumptious bumps fractious up to the next level, meaning “offensively self-assertive.”

Many more amusing Americanisms await in our slideshow “These Wacky Words Originated In The USA.”

Did you know … ?

Looking to assert your vocab even more? Try these synonyms for bumptious:

We’re also fond of braggadocious—as a word, not a behavior, to be sure! Bumptious can easily be confused with a similar sounding word that is also close in meaning, presumptuous.

Head on over to Thesaurus.com for more synonyms for bumptious. Arrogant is a useful place to start.

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