Supercilious
Supercilious refers to an attitude of arrogant superiority, where someone looks down on others with disdainful contempt, often conveyed through facial expressions or tone. In today's social media-driven world, it's frequently used to call out influencers or experts who flaunt their knowledge in a way that alienates rather than engages, turning everyday interactions into subtle power plays.
Did you know?
Supercilious is one of the few English words directly tied to a specific facial expression, the raised eyebrow, which studies from the University of California show can subconsciously signal dominance and affect social dynamics in just 0.2 seconds. This gesture has evolutionary roots, appearing in primates as a way to assert status, making it a universal language of arrogance across cultures.
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