P. J. O'Rourke

In Henry Adams, I discovered not only the prototype of the modern thinker but also someone who is more interesting: a viper-toothed, puling, supercilious crank, thwarted in ambition, aging gracelessly, mad at the cosmos, and ashamed of his own jejune ideals. He is nevertheless very dear to me.

American Comedian

Florence King

I've done pretty well as a professional fed-up. The tools of my trade so far have been irony, tongue-in-cheek mockery, and supercilious contempt, but these are highly civilized weapons designed for 18th-century French salons.

American Writer

John Lydon

Here's how I understand music. If you can play the same bunch of noise twice, it's music. To go beyond that is supercilious and pontificating.

English Musician

John Updike

The study of literature threatens to become a kind of paleontology of failure, and criticism a supercilious psychoanalysis of authors.

American Novelist

Emily Maitlis

I have facial blindness. It's hugely embarrassing as it makes me seem supercilious or snobbish.

British Journalist

Supercilious is always used negatively, suggesting disapproval of someone's behavior or attitude.

Negative Nuance

Superciliousness implies a sense of social superiority, as if looking down on others.

Social Superiority

When used, it often evokes emotions of irritation or resentment in others.