uppity

[ uhp-i-tee ]
See synonyms for: uppityuppityness on Thesaurus.com

adjectiveInformal.
  1. affecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; haughty; snobbish.

  2. rebelliously self-assertive; not inclined to be tractable or deferential.

Origin of uppity

1
1875–80, Americanism; probably up + -ity, extended form of -y1; cf. pernickety

Other words from uppity

  • up·pi·ty·ness, noun

Words Nearby uppity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use uppity in a sentence

  • MSNBC host Chris Matthews felt at ease, on national television, referring to a woman as “ she devil,” “ witchy,” and “ uppity.”

    The Year in Sexism | Amy Siskind | December 17, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • We ought to beat hershell get too uppity to live with, declared Bobby, discussing these games.

  • Juniper was a sight more uppity than Rosaotherwise she wouldnt have flew the coop, said Bob Wildwood, shaking his head.

  • So Mars' Colby had ter let dat uppity yaller gal go ahead an' do her worstest.

  • Den, how come you talk so uppity, like a man wid de law on he side and ain't a-scared o' nobody?

    Captain Ted | Louis Pendleton
  • "Sounds very uppity to me," she said with a humorous glance at her own ancient gown.

    Miss Pat at Artemis Lodge | Pemberton Ginther

British Dictionary definitions for uppity

uppity

/ (ˈʌpɪtɪ) /


adjectiveinformal
  1. not yielding easily to persuasion or control

  2. another word for uppish

Origin of uppity

1
from up + fanciful ending, perhaps influenced by -ity

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