a. [ L. imperiosus: cf. F. impérieux. See Imperial. ] 1. Commanding; ascendant; imperial; lordly; majestic. [ Obs. ] “A vast and imperious mind.” Tilloison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness,
Imperious. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Haughly; arrogant; overbearing; as, an imperious tyrant; an imperious manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

This imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

His bold, contemptuous, and imperious spirit soon made him conspicuous. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Imperative; urgent; compelling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Imperious need, which can not be withstood. Dryden.

Syn. -- Dictatorial; haughty; domineering; overbearing; lordly; tyrannical; despotic; arrogant; imperative; authoritative; commanding; pressing. -- Imperious, Lordly, Domineering. One who is imperious exercises his authority in a manner highly offensive for its spirit and tone; one who is lordly assumes a lofty air in order to display his importance; one who is domineering gives orders in a way to make others feel their inferiority. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an imperious manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being imperious; arrogance; haughtiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Imperiousness and severity is but an ill way of treating men who have reason of their own to guide them. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]