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uppity

[ uhp-i-tee ]

/ ˈʌp ɪ ti /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR uppity ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Informal.

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

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

Origin of uppity

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

OTHER WORDS FROM uppity

up·pi·ty·ness, noun

Words nearby uppity

uppercase, upperclassman, uppercut, uppermost, uppish, uppity, uppsala, upraise, uprate, uprear, upright

Example sentences from the Web for uppity

They say, “Love the way you dealt with that uppity teenager!”

Alan Cumming Goes ‘Good’ |Maria Elena Fernandez |August 31, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
Conservatives really seem to hate it when uppity women—damn that pesky economic empowerment!

Summer of the Single Mom |Leslie Bennetts |September 1, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
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 |DAILY BEAST
He thought I was uppity and mixing with highbrows or something.

Long Live the Queen! |Lloyd Grove |February 25, 2009 |DAILY BEAST

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
She was making her do that because she thought she was uppity and she wanted to punish her.

Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States |Work Projects Administration
We ought to beat hershell get too uppity to live with, declared Bobby, discussing these games.

The Girls of Central High on the Stage |Gertrude W. Morrison
You was 'fested with letheh straps an' uppity talk when I knowed you fust.

Lady Luck |Hugh Wiley

British Dictionary definitions for uppity

uppity

/ (ˈʌpɪtɪ) /

adjective informal

not yielding easily to persuasion or control

another word for uppish

Word Origin for uppity

from up + fanciful ending, perhaps influenced by -ity