arrant
adjective
ar·rant ˈa-rənt 
ˈer-ənt
: being notoriously without moderation : extreme
we are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare arrantly adverb
Synonyms
- absolute
- all-out
- blank
- blooming [chiefly British]
- bodacious [Southern & Midland]
- categorical
- categoric
- clean
- complete
- consummate
- crashing
- damn
- damned
- dead
- deadly
- definite
- downright
- dreadful
- fair
- flat
- flat-out
- out-and-out
- outright
- perfect
- plumb
- profound
- pure
- rank
- regular
- sheer
- simple
- stark
- stone
- straight-out
- thorough
- thoroughgoing
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
that statement is complete and arrant nonsense
Recent Examples on the Web Well, both of those statements are arrant nonsense. CBS News, 19 Jan. 2020
CBS News, 19 Jan. 2020 Word History
Etymology
Middle English arraunt, variant of erraunt "wandering, itinerant" (reflecting lowering of ĕ to ă before r); arraunt, erraunt in sense "notorious, reprobate" (hence, "extreme") from its use in the collocation theef erraunt, erraunt theif "outlawed robber roaming the country" — more at errant
Note: The two spellings arrant and errant (and presumably the associated pronunciations) were used indiscriminately into the 17th century, after which arrant became limited to its current meaning; since Robert Baker's Reflections on the English Language (1770), usage commentators have considered errant in the sense "arrant" as an error.
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
arrant
adjective
ar·rant ˈer-ənt
: of the worst kind
arrant nonsense
arrant
adjective
as in utter
having no exceptions or restrictions that statement is complete and arrant nonsense Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- utter
- sheer
- absolute
- complete
- pure
- outright
- unconditional
- total
- unmitigated
- simple
- definite
- damned
- downright
- unadulterated
- thoroughgoing
- damn
- out-and-out
- consummate
- unalloyed
- very
- unqualified
- real
- perfect
- straight-out
- deadly
- categorical
- plumb
- endless
- stone
- flat-out
- rank
- dreadful
- profound
- blank
- thorough
- blooming
- veritable
- genuine
- crashing
- categoric
- constant
- bodacious
- stark
- huge
- regular
- clean
- unremitting
- all-out
- perpetual
- flat
- fair
- dead
- eternal
- inveterate
- extreme
- horrible
- authentic
- terrible
- supreme
- habitual
- undying
- hopeless
- classic
- unrestricted
- superlative
- extraordinary
- confirmed
- main
- surpassing
- terrific
- frightful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- doubtful
- questionable
- dubious
- qualified
- uncertain
- restricted
- equivocal