Word of the day · 1 July 2026
hubris
/ˈhjuːbrɪs/
noun
Excessive pride or self-confidence, especially the kind that invites a fall.
In a sentence
- Launching without testing looked like hubris, not courage.
- Commentators blamed hubris for the failed expansion.
- His hubris made every warning sound like jealousy.
In an image
Origin
From Greek hybris (wanton violence, insolence, outrageous pride), later narrowed in English criticism to arrogant overconfidence.
History
In Greek thought, hybris was a serious offense against gods, order or other people. Modern English kept hubris for dangerous pride: leaders who ignore limits, firms that assume endless growth. Tragedy still shadows the word. Call something hubris and you imply a correction may follow.
Nearby words
arrogance · pride · overconfidence
Overreach dressed as certainty.