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as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude one dinner guest was a little lordly about her status as a vegetarian, even asking the other diners how they could bear to eat dead animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lordly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lordly are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, insolent, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

When is arrogant a more appropriate choice than lordly?

The synonyms arrogant and lordly are sometimes interchangeable, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When could disdainful be used to replace lordly?

The words disdainful and lordly can be used in similar contexts, but disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

In what contexts can haughty take the place of lordly?

While in some cases nearly identical to lordly, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

When can insolent be used instead of lordly?

In some situations, the words insolent and lordly are roughly equivalent. However, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When might overbearing be a better fit than lordly?

While the synonyms overbearing and lordly are close in meaning, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

Where would proud be a reasonable alternative to lordly?

The meanings of proud and lordly largely overlap; however, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When would supercilious be a good substitute for lordly?

The words supercilious and lordly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lordly But the cruelty and callousness of the lordly class infuses it all. Ky Henderson, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2024 The surge ended in the World Series, the lordly Yankees winning in six games, but Mays was on his way and Durocher gave him full credit. Mike Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024 Kings filled these cities with lordly stone monuments called stelae and pyramids of gray stone. Will Hunt, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2014 What comes next is a showdown between her force and his financial clout, between labor and the lordly class. Amy Nicholson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022 The portrait of Markram that ultimately emerges is of a lordly sovereign stalking the halls of an island mansion, an autumn of the scientific patriarch. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2022 From 1958 to 1961, sulking Giants and Dodgers fans had to put up with the lordly Yankees winning three pennants and two World Series. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2022 The lordly African lion in his zoo grotto will cast a sentimental glance at his shaggy mate. San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2022 The latest entry in the MCU picked up $90.7 million internationally, which pushes its global total to a lordly $161.7 million. Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Nov. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lordly
Adjective
  • Nobody wants to be around an arrogant or disrespectful individual, in the workplace or in day-to-day life.
    AllBusiness, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • So Far Trump in fact as played by Stan is a mix of charming and shy, troubled and insecure, arrogant and angry, a creative dealmaker with vision, narcissitic, cruel, self-serving, at times grief stricken.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Leading On & Off The Court Napheesa Collier is both a basketball star and a proud mom to her daughter.
    Caroline Fitzgerald, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Clearly proud of such an achievement, Ferrari designed the 360’s engine lid to feature a pane of glass that allows the engine to constantly be on display.
    Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • For all of these juristic innovations, the warrants also represent something entirely familiar: an international institution, created to serve high and noble purposes, succumbing to the temptation of pursuing an anti-Israel agenda.
    Eugene Kontorovich, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024
  • That’s noble, and about the best thing a legitimate leader can do.
    Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • While many business professionals are likely familiar with the steps of basic decision making, the challenge lies in refining and optimizing this process to achieve superior outcomes.
    Michael Shribman, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Timothée Chalamet’s performance in this is superior.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Daniel Brühl is transformative as the haughty, brilliant and self-loathing Lagerfeld.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Nov. 2024
  • As haughty, naughty Nurse Redd on FX‘s Grotesquerie, Lesley Manville turned in one of the most memorable performances of the TV season.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Howard crushed it, setting a high bar, but Doechii was ready to respond.
    Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Another edition went for $5.7 million on a $6 million high estimate at Christie’s New York in 2009.
    Brian Boucher for ArtNews, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • French bulldogs, Boston terriers, cavalier King Charles spaniels and other brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds have become incredibly popular due to their unique appearance.
    Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
  • The 29-year-old can occasionally frustrate with his histrionics and cavalier playing style, but last season’s 4-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace was a chastening reminder of what the team can look like without him.
    Carl Anka, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
Adjective
  • The season’s final images of the now-President Grace Penn looking smug and Wyler looking panicked signal the power struggle to come.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Mars took a chilling photo of Carolyn Bryant, a thin, pale brunette with dark lipstick and sharp eyebrows, sitting cross-armed in the gallery, looking smug.
    Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near lordly

Cite this Entry

“Lordly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lordly. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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