History Main / InsufferableGenius

%%* The Brain from ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain''. Or is he? According to WordOfGod, the title song says "One is a genius, the other's insane," [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation but not which is which...]]

* Twilight Sparkle in ''Fanfic/{{Alicorn}}'' has a problem with this as part of the story's DysfunctionJunction. She assumes that she's the smartest person in the room, and that anyone who aren't as booksmart as her are either stupid or lazy. She rolls her eyes at Applejack's entirely correct assumption about Celestia being Rainbow's mother because Twilight had already concluded that it wasn't the case, and later grows increasingly arrogant and demeaning towards Rainbow because Rainbow can't learn magic based on the pile of theory-heavy books Twilight dumped in her lap. To her credit, she realizes how much of a jerk she's been thanks to Shining Armor calling out her flaws while assuring her it doesn't make her a bad pony, just something she needs to be aware of. [[spoiler:Too bad [[BigBad the Nightmare]] would rather Twilight's flaws get worse and make her as miserable as possible]].

'''Tony:''' A genius billionaire playboy philanthropist.

** Princess Shuri has a moment in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' when she asks Bruce why he didn't find a simpler configuration for Vision's neural structure. Bruce, who is a gamma radiation physicist and not an engineer or neurologist, mentions that it didn't occur to him and Tony. Shuri sardonically says she's sure he tried his best.

%%* ''Anime/YuGiOh'':
%%** Seto Kaiba. With ego and indifference to match.
%%** The anime only character, Rebecca as well.

* The last DC Comics story of ''ComicBook/ThePowerpuffGirls'', "Smart And Smarter" (Issue #59 of Cartoon Network Block Party) had Blossom being admitted to a school for exceptionally smart children. Of course, this goes to her head as after Bubbles draws a rainbow, Blossom details what causes rainbows in a condescending manner. When she starts ragging on Buttercup and Bubbles on their battle techniques against Mojo Jojo, breaking down every movement to a science, even Mojo has had enough and challenges Blossom. Eventually at the end, [[TeamRocketWins Mojo outwits Blossom]], with Bubbles' and Buttercup's blessings!

** The witch Granny Weatherwax is an unusual combination of this and BookDumb. Her spelling ([[{{Pun}} heh]]) and grammar are on a First Grade level at best, and she considers plenty of things most people take for granted to be stupid or unworthy of her time. She also has [[{{Pride}} an ego the size of the Disc itself]], [[BadassBoast names herself the best Witch in the world]], and [[RankScalesWithAsskicking constantly]] proves [[AwesomeEgo it]], being both a powerful sorceress and a genius GuileHeroine[=/=]MagnificentBitch who's knocked around [[EvilOverlord tyrants]], [[TheFairFolk elves]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] and her evil sister in her time. Sure, she's an arrogant jerk, but she [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold really does care]], is by far most insufferable to [[TooDumbToLive idiots]] and [[WideEyedIdealist idealists]], and reserves her [[FateWorseThanDeath worst punishments]] for the utterly vile.

Also contrast with GentlemanAndAScholar (whose intelligence does not prevent him from being gracious, friendly, and polite), SmallNameBigEgo (who thinks he's an Insufferable Genius but is merely Insufferable, if not an InsufferableImbecile) and AcademicAlphaBitch (who is the high school version of the Insufferable Genius and feels the need to [[ControlFreak order the school]] to her specifications). See KindheartedSimpleton which is the opposite of this trope. Compare RightlySelfRighteous if it's the character who is morally right despite how condescending they are. Compare also SmugSuper and the ArrogantKungFuGuy, whose egos come from personal strength instead of intelligence. See TallPoppySyndrome for how they're often reacted to. Related to but distinct from EducationalElitism, which is more about educational status than intelligence.

Also contrast with GentlemanAndAScholar (whose intelligence does not prevent him from being gracious, friendly, and polite), SmallNameBigEgo (who thinks he's an Insufferable Genius but is merely Insufferable, if not an InsufferableImbecile) and AcademicAlphaBitch (who is the high school version of the Insufferable Genius and feels the need to [[ControlFreak order the school]] to her specifications). See KindheartedSimpleton which is the opposite of this trope. Compare RightlySelfRighteous if it's the character who is morally right despite how condescending they are. Compare also SmugSuper and the ArrogantKungFuGuy, whose egos come from personal strength instead of intelligence. See TallPoppySyndrome for how they're often reacted to.

* ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'': While most other media usually portray him as a NiceGuy, this show's version of Professor Ludwig von Drake is far more full himself, often praising his own genius. It's highlighted in the episode "Ask von Drake!" where Mickey is so annoyed by Ludwig's "I know everything"-attitude that he challenges him in a bet. He's also portrayed this way in the ''Mickey Mouse Works'' shorts which are [[ShowWithinTheShow shown in the House Of Mouse]].

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': Wile E. Coyote acts as one in the shorts where he speaks and/or goes after Bugs Bunny. Wile E. Coyote [[MyCard shows off his business card]] where [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_wile_businesscard.png his profession is labeled as "Genius"]], and he introduces himself to Bugs as a "super genius". All the while, the coyote is claiming how intelligent he is, and how everyone else is beneath his notice or his concern. In practice, he's more of a SmallNameBigEgo. Wile E. Coyote has as much success outsmarting KarmicTrickster Bugs Bunny as he does at catching the Road Runner -- which is to say, no luck at all. Every one of his inventions or tricks is always going to backfire on him, with Bugs or the Road Runner always coming away with the last laugh.