Word of the Day: HUBRIS
Pronunciation: hu·bris /ˈhjuː.brɪs/

Meaning
Hubris refers to excessive pride, arrogance, or overbearing self-confidence, especially when it leads to a person’s downfall. It is often used to describe someone who dangerously overestimates their power or position.

Origin
From Ancient Greek hybris (ὕβρις) — meaning “insolence” or “outrage”.
In Greek tragedies, hubris described defiance against the gods or natural order, inevitably leading to punishment.

Historical Context
Ancient Greece:
Legal and moral crime: Hubris wasn’t just immoral—it could be criminal, involving assault, theft, or violations of sacred boundaries.
Religious overste p : It often denoted challenging the gods or attempting to exceed human limits.
Greek Tragedy: Characters like Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, or Oedipus, who sought to outwit fate, are classic examples of downfall by hubris.
Philosophy & Theology: Aristotle saw hubris as a moral failing—a crime of shame without gain.
In Christian thought, hubris relates to pride, one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Modern Usage: Today, someone acting with hubris is said to ignore warnings, moral boundaries, or the limits of their power—often to their own detriment.

Examples in Literature
“What we did was terrible, but still I don’t think any of us were bad, exactly; chalk it up to weakness on my part, hubris on Henry’s, too much Greek prose composition—whatever you like.”— The Secret History by Donna Tartt

“If my father had possessed the words, he would have said the whole enterprise was bad hubris.”— Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee

Synonyms

  • Arrogance
  • Conceit
  • Egoism
  • Vanity
  • Overconfidence
  • Presumption
  • Grandiosity
  • Pridefulness