These words refer to a person who is afflicted with unwarranted self-admiration or a feeling of his own superiority. Conceited pertains to an excessive affection for oneself that may be revealed by an uncritical smugness and aloofness from others: conceited girls who walk home from school with their noses in the air. More specifically, the word may point to a person who becomes well-headed because of a particular accomplishment or occurrence, often a trivial one: She became unbearably conceited after the football captain asked her out. Vain suggests a person who is extremely concerned about his personal appearance or the impression he makes on others. A conceited person might feel that his superiority is self-evident, whereas a vain person would more likely strive constantly to impress others or improve his appearance: The typical dandy of old was so vain about his appearance that he spent almost as much time primping before a mirror as his female counterpart.

Egotistical need not suggest an outward show, like vain , so much as an extreme self-preoccupation and lack of interest in the feelings or affairs of others. On the other hand, where conceited usually suggests that someone is self-admiring for clearly defined reasons, however specious, egotistical may suggest a more unconscious, narcissistic habit of mind: an egotistical snob who thought the world began and ended where he lived. Sometimes, however, the word can point to the habit of calling attention to oneself and one’s accomplishments, while ignoring the interests of others: the egotistical artist who monopolized the conversation with talk of his work in progress.

Boastful and vainglorious concentrate on this last possibility of egotistical , both referring to self-praise and attention-seeking in public. Boastful emphasizes unsubtle and even boorish public displays of vocal self-approval: after a few drinks, he always became boastful about his wartime activities. Vainglorious focuses more exclusively on hollow show, boastful self-praise, but conspicuous displays of status symbols are often involves: vainglorious dowagers dripping minks and diamonds.

Proud can, of cause, indicate legitimate satisfaction at accomplishing a goal or honour: proud of his high marks in the examination. It can also apply to things invested with real dignity: a proud history; proud mountains silhouetted in the sunset. When the word takes on a disapproving tone, it suggests a stiff-necked and unrealistic lack of humility: too proud to admit that he had been grossly in error.