Arrogant, a.
Etymology: [F. arrogant, L. arrogans, p. pr. of arrogare. See Arrogate.]
1. Making, or having the disposition to make, exorbitant claims of rank or estimation; giving one's self an undue degree of importance; assuming; haughty; -- applied to persons. Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate. Shak.
2. Containing arrogance; marked with arrogance; proceeding from undue claims or self-importance; -- applied to things; as, arrogant pretensions or behavior.
Syn. -- Magisterial; lordly; proud; assuming; overbearing; presumptuous; haughty. See Magisterial.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for arrogant; he lists it under absolute, dogmatic.
Where he writes about it:
An imperious demand or requirement may have in it nothing offensive; it is simply one that resolutely insists upon compliance, and will not brook refusal; an arrogant demand is offensive by its tone of superiority, an arbitrary demand by its unreasonableness; an imperious disposition is liable to become arbitrary and arrogant. — from absolute
Outside of theology, dogmatic has generally an offensive sense; a dogmatic statement is one for which the author does not trouble himself to give a reason, either because of the strength of his convictions, or because of his contempt for those whom he addresses; thus dogmatic is, in common use, allied with arrogant and kindred words. — from dogmatic
Synonyms
absolutedogmaticarbitraryauthoritativeautocraticcoercivecommandingcompulsivecompulsorycontrollingdespoticdictatorialdoctrinaldomineeringexactinghaughtyimperativeimperiousirresponsiblelordlymagisterialopinionatedoverbearingperemptorypositiveself-opinionatedsupremesystematictyrannicalunconditionalunequivocal