Arrogantly superior and disdainful; showing contempt for others whom one considers inferior. Describes an attitude of proud superiority combined with scorn for those perceived as beneath oneself.
From Old French 'haut' meaning 'high,' related to Latin 'altus' (high). The word evolved from the literal sense of physical height to the metaphorical sense of looking down on others from a position of assumed superiority.
Think 'HIGH and mighty' - haughty people act like they're physically and morally above everyone else! The word even sounds like 'HOTTY' - they think they're so hot that everyone else is beneath them. Picture someone literally looking down their nose.
Haughty has been historically applied disproportionately to women, especially women in power or women who resist subservience, to diminish their authority as arrogant rather than authoritative.
Use to describe attitude (arrogant bearing) neutrally and equally across genders. Avoid as coded language to undermine women's leadership.
["arrogant","dismissive","proud","authoritative (more neutral)"]
Women leaders' confidence has often been mislabeled 'haughty' to delegitimize them; recognize the pattern.
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