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  • Noun

hubris

HYOO-bris

Context
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Greek drama often tells the story of a man brought down by his own hubris, illustrating the idea that excessive pride comes before a fall. The authors tell us that it is human nature not to recognize one’s own hubris or flawed, enormous pride. The more power one acquires the more likely one is to fall into hubris or blind self-importance.

Quiz: What is hubris?

  • Overbearing vanity and focus on the greatness of the self.
  • A form of Greek theater.
  • A bad fall that one takes because of a limitation in one’s character.

Memory Hook
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Hub Rising "Hey everyone, do you see my cool new hubcaps? Man, these hubcaps so rock, and they are brighter than the sun rising. Because I have such awesome hubcaps, man, I'm too cool for all of you." And in such a way did Boastful Bob's hubris cost him his gorgeous wife because she was sick and tired of him bragging about his stupid hubcaps that were supposedly brighter than the rising sun.

Examples
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  • Lack of planning, hubris, confused thinking and a complete void as to the consequences were the fatal flaws in the partition plan, writes Ms Khan. — The Economist
  • Those men made a difference in baseball’s rich history and, oh yes, they had integrity, which is more than I can say for Canseco and his hubris-impaired, muscled ilk. — USA Today
  • To believe that God would do something about your prayers, other than be a comfort and a 'parent' to lean on, might be considered to be hubris, in my opinion. — Cooking Light
  • What the future will actually bring is unknown, as technology’s 'hype versus promise' divide is an old story, worsened by hubris. — Los Angeles Times

Word Ingredients
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From a root word meaning “wanton violence, outrage, insolence.” If one demonstrates hubris, one’s excessive self-importance is a form of “insolence” or “outrage” upon acceptable behavior and social norms.

Word Constellation
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Hubris