What does “conceit” mean?
- 1
nountoo much pride in yourself and your abilities
His conceit made him hard to work with.
- 2
nouna clever or unusual idea or comparison, especially in literature or film
The novel’s central conceit is a house that remembers everything.
Conceit at a glance
- Part of speech
- noun
- CEFR level
- C2 (proficient)
- Pronunciation
- /kənˈsit/ · kun-SEET
How to use “conceit” correctly
In literary criticism, a “conceit” is a clever idea or extended metaphor, with no negative meaning.
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- vanity
- arrogance
- device
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- modesty
- humility
Word family
- conceited
“conceit” is on these word lists
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