1
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
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2
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
his lordly attitude toward people who enjoy popular music
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3
as in noble
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature
born to great wealth, he has always displayed a lordly generosity toward the less fortunate
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Example Sentences
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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
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
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
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
Player for player Atlanta shouldn’t be scaring the lordly Dodgers like this.
—Ray Glier, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021
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
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
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
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
Player for player Atlanta shouldn’t be scaring the lordly Dodgers like this.
—Ray Glier, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lordly
Adjective
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This version of Ryan was arrogant, unable to conceal pride in his accomplishment.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There are certainly some top-notch barbecue restaurants that made the cut, but the Michelin selection barely scratches the surface of the South’s long, proud barbecue tradition.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
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What’s left now is a proud elite program trying to scrape its way into bowl season.—
D’Joumbarey Moreau,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
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Such structures, including residences and fortresses, were created by religious authorities and noble families, according to the city’s tourism website.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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And when daily wear and tear was simulated – through continuous electric-toothbrush abrasion equivalent to about a year of brushing, as well as chewing and grinding – the teeth actually had superior resistance to wear, fracture and acid attack compared with natural enamel.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Nov. 2025
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Instead of settling for 3-pointers, Boozer took the ball hard to the basket in the second half while a Duke team with obviously superior talent to Texas got untracked.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In the small Campo dei Tolentini, presided over by the haughty neoclassical columns of the eponymous church, a queue straggles from a tiny bar.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Lellouche stars as unlikely hero Zem, a disillusioned Zone 3 cop with an idealistic militant past, who is teamed with haughty, high-flying Zone 2 officer Salia, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, after a leading politician is assassinated in Zone 1.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Some American customers are also shunning Starbucks for its relatively high prices, compared to McDonald’s and other less expensive chains like Dunkin’.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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In its most recent quarter, Grab reported revenue of $873 million, 22% higher than the same period the year before.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This cavalier approach masks an earlier struggle.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
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If Spurs were guilty of being too cavalier during Postecoglou’s time in charge, then this was the total opposite.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As a sleazy, lecherous publicist pinned in a Manhattan phone booth by a faceless sniper on the other end of the line, Farrell goes from smug condescension to breathless victimhood pretty effortlessly.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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But Minnesota, with or without its unapologetically smug superstar, has been the Nuggets’ kryptonite for more than a year.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lordly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lordly. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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