lordly

adjective

lord·​ly ˈlȯrd-lē How to pronounce lordly (audio)
lordlier; lordliest
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a lord : dignified
b
2
: exhibiting the pride and assurance associated with one of the highest birth or rank
lordliness noun
lordly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for lordly

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors.

proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of lordly in a Sentence

a lordly and dignified man He regarded his neighbors with lordly disdain.
Recent Examples on the Web 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 Player for player Atlanta shouldn’t be scaring the lordly Dodgers like this. Ray Glier, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 In 2015, a campaign spokesperson made an even more lordly valuation—a hundred million. Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lordly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lordly was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lordly

Cite this Entry

“Lordly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lordly. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lordly

adjective
lord·​ly ˈlȯ(ə)rd-lē How to pronounce lordly (audio)
lordlier; lordliest
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a lord : noble
2
lordliness noun
lordly adverb

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