Hubris

noun

excessive pride or arrogance, sometimes to a point of foolishness
(in Greek tragedy) extreme defiance to the gods—caused by excessive pride—resulting in a character's downfall

Usage

In modern usage, hubris refers to extreme arrogance that can often cause a person to look ridiculous. It can be applied in situations of business, school, or any social interaction. People might act with hubris if they lead a meeting as though they are completely knowledgeable on information they've never learned. Similarly, a student who believes they are better than everyone else because of a superior test grade would have considerable hubris.

The contemporary use of hubris can be applied in any situation relating to overbearing pride. The use of hubris is meant to emphasize just how intense one's arrogance can be. Hubris indicates supreme overconfidence, which in turn can lead to foolishness or even a downfall. An inflated ego is not built on a solid foundation of fact or knowledge; therefore, anyone with hubris tends to isolate or destroy their social standing or relationships. Hubris is never a good thing because it is excessive, damaging pride.

Derived from the Greek term hybris, hubris used to take on a meaning that pertained to pride in the face of the gods. At first, hubris meant "humiliation," but later came to describe "disregard to divinity, causing degradation." Starting in the sixth century, hubris was even used to describe crimes of rape, treason, piety, or murder, which were associated with overindulgent arrogance at the time. This usage of hubris relates to the societal value of honor and fear of shame, which are mirrored even in the word's modern usage. Because of its association with the opposition of deities, Ancient Greek poets often used hubris as a term for sin.

Example: He led the meeting with great hubris, only to make a fool of himself by having incorrect information.

Example: Speaking to the gods with such hubris incited a vengeance he would never escape.

Origin

The word hubris first appeared in late 19th century, taking root from the Greek word hybris, meaning "arrogance toward the gods." This aligns with the usage of hubris in Greek tragedy, and can also relate to the definition's expansion to general excessive pride. Though this is the most supported etymology of hubris, some experts believe hubris could have appeared as a back-formation—a derivative word that results from removing a suffix of another—of hubristic.

Derivative Words

Hubristic is an adjective form of hubris, describing someone as having an air of arrogance.

Example: The way she held her head high and looked down on others as she walked portrayed her hubristic nature.

Hubristically is the adverb form of hubris; it describes actions done in a prideful or presumptuous way.

Example: He spoke hubristically while responding to the question only he knew the answer to.

In Literature

From Rick Riordan's The Sea of Monsters:

"My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris."
I blinked. "That brown stuff they spread on veggie sandwiches?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, Seaweed Brain. That's hummus. Hubris is worse."
"What could be worse than hummus?"
"Hubris means deadly pride, Percy. Thinking you can do things better than anyone else ... even the gods."

The character, Annabeth, is describing her personal fatal flaw to Percy. Hubris is being used as it is classically applied in Greek tragedy: excessive pride against the gods. She also believes that having hubris is even worse than having hummus - remember that next time you find yourself in a bout of hubris.

Mnemonic

Hubris helps him hold his head high - maybe too high
Humility humiliates Hubris