Haughty - Word Of The Day For IELTS

Expanding your IELTS vocabulary with precise, descriptive, and formal words can significantly boost your Lexical Resource score. Today’s word, “haughty,” is especially useful when describing people’s attitudes, facial expressions, or behaviour that shows arrogant pride or superiority. Using this adjective in IELTS Speaking and Writing helps you sound more natural, sophisticated, and accurate when expressing opinions or describing personalities.

Meaning of Haughty

Adjective: Behaving in a proud, unfriendly, or superior manner; showing arrogance or disdain towards others.

A person who is haughty often appears distant, dismissive, or overly proud, believing they are more important than those around them. This word is particularly effective when discussing social relationships, behaviour, or personality traits in IELTS tasks.

Origin and History of the Word

The word haughty comes from the Old French word haut, meaning high, which is related to the Latin altus (high or tall). Historically, it referred to someone of “high” rank or status, but over time, the meaning shifted to describe arrogant behaviour associated with a sense of superiority.

By the 1500s, haughty was commonly used in English literature to depict nobles, rulers, or individuals who looked down on others. Today, it carries a negative tone and is often used to criticise unfriendly or condescending attitudes.

How to Use “Haughty” in IELTS Speaking & Writing?

Haughty is a strong descriptive adjective that fits well both IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing when the topic involves:

• Describing people’s behaviour or attitude
• Talking about conflicts or misunderstandings
• Describing characters in a story
• Discussing workplace or social dynamics
• Expressing criticism in academic essays

Using haughty appropriately shows your ability to use precise vocabulary when analysing behaviour or attitudes, an essential part of scoring Band 7 and above.

Examples of “Haughty” in Context

• “Jessica turned away with a haughty look on her face.”
• “People thought of him as haughty and difficult to talk to.”
• “The manager’s haughty attitude created a tense work environment.”
• “She gave him a haughty smile before walking away.”
• “His haughty response made it clear he felt superior to everyone else.”

IELTS Tip

When discussing unpleasant attitudes, social problems, or personality traits in the IELTS Writing Task 2 and IELTS Speaking Part 3, haughty is an excellent advanced adjective that replaces simpler words like “rude,” “arrogant,” or “unfriendly.”

• For example, in a question about workplace relationships, you could say: “Conflicts often arise when managers adopt a haughty attitude, making employees feel undervalued or intimidated.”

This sounds more precise and formal, helping you boost your Lexical Resource score.

Synonyms for “Haughty”

• Arrogant
• Snobbish
• Pompous
• Condescending
• Stuck-up
• Proud
• Superior

Antonyms for “Haughty”

• Humble
• Approachable
• Friendly
• Modest
• Down-to-earth
• Respectful

Sample IELTS Speaking Answer Using “Haughty”

Use in: IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Describing a person

Question: Describe a person you found difficult to get along with.

Answer:
“I once had a classmate who often behaved in a rather haughty manner. She would speak to others as if they were beneath her, which made group work extremely uncomfortable. This superior attitude created tension, and many students avoided interacting with her. It taught me how damaging such behaviour can be in social or academic settings.”

Sample IELTS Writing Sentence Using “Haughty”

Use in: IELTS Writing Task 2 – Discussing societal behaviour

“Many people believe that a haughty attitude among political leaders prevents constructive dialogue and weakens public trust.”

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with “haughty” or its synonyms:

1. The actress gave a __________ smile before ignoring the reporters.
2. His __________ attitude made his colleagues feel uncomfortable.
3. People avoided her because she always acted in a __________ manner.
4. Instead of being humble, he responded with a __________ tone during the interview.

Answers:

1. haughty
2. arrogant
3. haughty
4. pompous

Incorporating words like haughty into your IELTS Speaking and Writing responses helps you express opinions with clarity, accuracy, and sophistication. Whether you are describing a person, analysing behaviour, or evaluating social issues, this vocabulary word adds depth to your language.

Keep practising this word in multiple contexts to improve your fluency and lexical resource for higher band scores. If you're aiming for top IELTS Band Score, follow the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

Also Check: 

• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Score Band 8.0+
• Linking words for IELTS Speaking Section
• IELTS Pronunciation Guide 2025
• 75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test