loftier; loftiest
1
a
: elevated in character and spirit : noble
lofty ideals
b
: elevated in status : superior
the less lofty customers of the bar
2
: having a haughty overbearing manner : supercilious
She showed a lofty disregard for their objections.
3
a
: rising to a great height : impressively high
lofty mountains
b
: remote, esoteric
basic precepts are not lofty abstractions far removed from matters of daily livingD. D. Eisenhower
4
: having full-bodied, firm, and resilient textile fibers
lofty flannel
loftily adverb
loftiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for lofty

high, tall, lofty mean above the average in height.

high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill
a high ceiling

tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

Examples of lofty in a Sentence

He set lofty goals for himself as a teacher. She showed a lofty disregard for their objections.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The result is LaFleur’s lofty spot on PFF’s coaching ranking is gone — at least for now. Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 There’s something lofty about Stecopoulos’s opening-day exercise. Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 His explanation of why trust matters to Allstate has less lofty roots. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 27 June 2025 Still, this year has been a collapse at Camden Yards, following lofty expectations to return to the playoffs for a third straight season. Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lofty

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lofty was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Lofty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lofty. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

lofty

adjective
loftier; loftiest
1
: proud sense 1a, haughty
a lofty manner
2
a
: of high, noble, or excellent quality
lofty ideals
b
: of high rank : superior
3
: rising to a great height
lofty redwood trees
loftily adverb
loftiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lofty

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