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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
  • Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald return as love interest Virginia Venit and arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, respectively, and the cast includes rookies like Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce and pro wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Those include genial second-year resident Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), arrogant intern Santos (Isa Briones), and doe-eyed med students Javadi (Shabana Azeez) and Whittaker (Gerran Howell).
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The proud dad, 40, and his oldest child made history in October 2024 by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Green would likely be proud of the award-winning bottles being produced today.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But as his latest shows, noble principles about the protection of wildlife and animals don’t automatically translate to a good screenplay or a watchable movie.
    Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025
  • For spring 2025, Loro Piana switched its focus from cashmere to linen, crowned as the noble fiber of the season.
    Luisa Zargani, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The matter is far from trivial: Sovereignty would give a country access to potentially significant oil, gas and rare earth resources, as well as superior scientific and military access to the future Transpolar Sea Route.
    Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Those who wanted to hear music like this could put on superior offerings from Lady Gaga or Kesha.
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The film centers on a colony of ants — no better model for we, the lowly workers — who must toil to yield a yearly sacrifice of grain to the haughty grasshoppers in order to be left alone.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Known for his suave leading roles, Jourdan depicts vampirism as a mark of haughty aristocracy rather than an outright curse.
    Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • His output was also defined by his personal celebrity—a folksy, chain-smoking former Eagle Scout who produced art of high complexity while also rhapsodizing about the simple pleasures of eating a doughnut with a cup of coffee.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • But someone with frailty has a higher chance of ending up at the hospital and developing an infection.
    Kathleen Felton, SELF, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Star Wars: Skeleton Crew A cavalier Jude Law as a space pirate meets four kids way too far from home, plus some secrets of the galaxy and the Old Republic.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2024
  • In her opening statement, Johnson painted Baldwin, who starred in and produced the film, as cavalier with firearms and suggested that the cast and crew faced constraints, ramping up the risk of someone getting injured on set.
    Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 10 July 2024
Adjective
  • On Vanderpump Rules, this man was smug, pathetic, punchable.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2025
  • João Franco Photo: Bravo/Mark Rogers/Bravo Deckhand/Bosun Below Deck Mediterranean Seasons 3-4 — 2nd Officer/Bosun Below Deck Down Under Season 2 — Why can’t someone knock the smug look off of this deckie turned bosun’s face?
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near lordly

Cite this Entry

“Lordly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lordly. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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