upstart

/ˌʌpˈstɑrt/

Other forms: upstarts

An upstart is someone who's cocky and arrogant, and who doesn't show much respect for other people.

There are many ways of starting up trouble — one is by being an upstart. Upstarts are people who are full of themselves and dismissive of others. Often, an upstart is a young person or newcomer. A new employee who acts like he knows more than everyone else is an upstart. An arrogant rookie on a sports team is an upstart. In the 1500s, upstart and start-up were both used to mean the same thing, "one newly risen in importance."

Definitions of upstart

1. noun

   a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class
   synonyms: arriviste, nouveau-riche, parvenu

   types:

   climber, social climber

   someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior

   junior

   term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male

   lion-hunter

   someone who tries to attract social lions as guests

   type of:

   disagreeable person, unpleasant person

   a person who is not pleasant or agreeable
2. noun

   an arrogant or presumptuous person
   types:

   smart aleck, weisenheimer, wise guy, wisenheimer

   an upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments

   type of:

   disagreeable person, unpleasant person

   a person who is not pleasant or agreeable
3. adjective

   characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position
   synonyms: nouveau-riche, parvenu, parvenue

   pretentious

   making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction
4. noun

   a gymnastic exercise performed starting from a position with the legs over the upper body and moving to an erect position by arching the back and swinging the legs out and down while forcing the chest upright
   synonyms: kip

   type of:

   gymnastic exercise

   (gymnastics) an exercise designed to develop and display strength and agility and balance (usually performed with or on some gymnastic apparatus)