Imperious Prima flashes forth / Her edict "to begin it"— / In gentler tone Secunda hopes / "There will be nonsense in it!"— / While Tertia interrupts the tale / Not more than once a minute.
Source: tatoeba (5514228)
Imperious
/ɪmˈpɪə̯.ɹi.əs/
Synonyms for "imperious" (113 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (23)
Strong matches (34)
condescendingconstrainingcriticalcrucialcryingcurtde rigueurdecisivedespoticdictatorialdogmaticdomineeringdrivingdynasticelitistexigentfeudalgrindingheavy-handedhigh and mighty
Show 9 more words
Adjective(4 words)
Noun(1 words)
emergency edict
Related words (56)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: overbearing, absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, acute.
- Sentence evidence is available for imperious, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "imperious".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "imperious"
Keep "imperious" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "imperious" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "imperious", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "imperious" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
2 entriesCollocations
6 entriesimperious authorityimperious commandimperious demeanorimperious glareimperious mannerimperious tone
Inflections
2 entriesmore imperiousmost imperious
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with modesty / enough, and likelihood to lead it; as thus: Alexander died, / Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is / earth; of earth we make loam; and why of that loam (whereto he / was converted) might they not stop a beer barrel? / Imperious Caesar, dead and turn'd to clay, / Might stop a hole to keep the wind away. / O, that that earth which kept the world in awe / Should patch a wall t' expel the winter's flaw!
Source: tatoeba (5514234)
The love which had sprung up in his heart was not the sudden, changeable fancy of a boy, but rather the wild, fierce passion of a man of strong will and imperious temper.
Source: tatoeba (6359713)
Near these scarabs there was a case in which had been thrown three heavy gold rings, their bezels engraved with hieroglyphics, which had doubtless been worn on the dry, yellow fingers of imperious Pharaohs.
Source: tatoeba (12089214)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "imperious"?
Closest matches include overbearing, absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, acute.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "imperious"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.