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Bossy vs Arrogant - What's the difference?

bossy | arrogant |

As adjectives the difference between bossy and arrogant

is that bossy is tending to give orders to others, especially when unwarranted; domineering while arrogant is having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt for others.

As a noun bossy

is a cow or calf.

bossy

English

Etymology 1

Adjective

(er)
  • Tending to give orders to others, especially when unwarranted; domineering.
  • Synonyms
    * dictatorial, authoritarian, commanding, tyrannical, demanding, inflexible * see also

    Etymology 2

    Diminutive of dialectal English boss, as used in the term ).

    Noun

    (bossies)
  • (US, informal, dated) A cow or calf.
  • * about 1900 , O. Henry,
  • A week before, while riding the prairies, Raidler had come upon a sick and weakling calf deserted and bawling. Without dismounting he had reached and slung the distressed bossy across his saddle, and dropped it at the ranch for the boys to attend to.

    Etymology 3

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Ornamented with bosses; studded.
  • ----

    arrogant

    English

    (arrogance)

    Alternative forms

    * arrogaunt (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt for others.
  • *
  • *
  • Usage notes

    * Said of people, statements, etc.

    Synonyms

    * conceited * condescending * disdainful * haughty * high-handed * narcissistic * overbearing * presumptuous * supercilious * proud * vain * See also

    Antonyms

    * humble * modest

    Derived terms

    * arrogantly

    Anagrams

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