English Dictionary
Definition of “conceit”
conceit (kənˈsiːt
)
Definitions
noun
- a high, often exaggerated, opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments; vanity
- literary an elaborate image or far-fetched comparison, esp as used by the English Metaphysical poets
- archaic
- a witty expression
- fancy; imagination
- an idea
- obsolete a small ornament
verb (tr)
- Northern England dialect to like or be able to bear (something, such as food or drink)
- obsolete to think or imagine
Word Origin
C14: from conceive
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
self-importance,
vanity,
arrogance,
complacency,
pride,
swagger,
narcissism,
egotism,
self-love,
amour-propre,
vainglory,
=
fancy,
thought,
idea,
opinion,
belief,
notion,
fantasy,
judgment,
vagary,
whimsy,
Quotations
"As for conceit, what man will do any good who is not conceited? Nobody holds a good opinion of a man who has a low opinion of himself"
Anthony Trollope
Usage examples
In this cosmic conceit , they are closer to the truth than they could ever know.
Zindell, David, The Broken God (1993)Ingram's book provides a Popperian falsification of that pompous conceit.
New Scientist (1999)Lessons from Iraq Fast Company writer John Ellis says it's a conceit for business to compare its daily activity to war.
Globe and Mail (2003)But they can never grasp the extent of conceit , delusion and dishonesty in the mind of the alcoholic.
Independent (1998)This is part of the general misreading of human affairs: it's the conceit that seeks profundity in reasons for behaviour.
Williams Kenneth & Davies, Russell (ed.), The Kenneth Williams Diaries (1994)
