conceit

/kənˈsiːt/ (bre, ipa) · [kənsˈit] /kənˈsiːt/ (ame, ipa) · [kənsˈit] /kən-ˈsēt/ (ame, mw)

conceit — noun

  • conceitsingular
  • conceitsplural

1. an excessive belief that your own abilities, appearance, or success make you mor

1.名詞C2
釋義

an excessive belief that your own abilities, appearance, or success make you more important than other people.

例句

After the prize ceremony, Rania's conceit annoyed the rest of the team.

conceit shown after success

The manager's conceit stopped him from hearing useful advice at meetings.

conceit prevents listening to advice

同義詞
  • vanity

    often focuses more on wanting admiration, especially for looks

  • arrogance

    stronger and more openly disrespectful toward other people

  • self-importance

    focuses on acting as if your needs or views matter most

反義詞
  • humility

    a willingness to see yourself without claiming special importance

  • modesty

    not showing off your abilities, success, or appearance

文法句型

conceit about + noun

wounded conceit

full of conceit

用法筆記

Usually used critically when someone's high opinion of themselves becomes obvious to other people. It often appears in contexts where praise, success, or embarrassment makes that attitude visible.

常見錯誤

❌Mina's conceit helped her speak calmly in the interview.
✅Mina's confidence helped her speak calmly in the interview.
💡'conceit' is negative and suggests too much admiration for yourself, not healthy self-belief.

2. a clever or unusual comparison or artistic idea in writing, especially one that

2.名詞C2
釋義

a clever or unusual comparison or artistic idea in writing, especially one that links very different things in a striking way.

例句

The teacher used a conceit comparing the mind to a crowded train station.

conceit comparing one thing to another

In Naoko's poem, the moon as a locked window is a striking conceit.

poetic conceit in criticism

同義詞
  • metaphor

    broader term for a comparison; a conceit is usually more elaborate

  • device

    broader literary term that can include many techniques besides comparison

  • image

    focuses on the picture created, not on the whole structural idea

文法句型

a conceit comparing A to B

the central conceit of + work

poetic conceit

用法筆記

Mainly used in literary discussion, especially for poetry, fiction, and film. It often suggests that the comparison or organizing idea is unusually clever, and sometimes too clever for the work around it.

常見錯誤

❌The phrase "time flies" is a conceit.
✅The poem's long comparison of grief to winter light is a conceit.
💡a conceit is usually an extended or especially striking idea, not just any short metaphor.