Word of the Day
September 29, 2023
Bumptious
Crudely or loudly assertive; self-conceited; obtrusively pushy or self-assertive to a pretentious extreme. Often used to describe someone who is aggressively self-important or presumptuously bold.
Derived from the word 'bump,' suggesting one who bumps others out of the way, combined with the suffix '-tious' denoting a quality. First used in the early 19th century to describe self-assertive or pushy behavior.
Usage Examples
- Producer Steve apparently thought that several of the Republican presidential candidates were quite bumptious at Wednesday evening's debate.
- The bumptious politician interrupted his opponents constantly, never allowing them to complete a sentence.
- His bumptious manner at the meeting alienated potential allies who might otherwise have supported his proposal.
From the Show
Producer Steve suggested this word after watching the Republican presidential debate, finding it apt for describing certain candidates’ aggressive debate styles. Kim challenged listeners to use ‘bumptious’ in a sentence that day. The word captures the tension between confident assertion and obnoxious self-promotion. Hear the full discussion in World Religions, Truth, and the Battle for Republican Identity.