Definition of STATELY

Choose the Right Synonym for stately

grand, magnificent, imposing, stately, majestic, grandiose mean large and impressive. grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity. a grand staircase magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste. magnificent paintings imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness. an imposing edifice stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement. the stately procession majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur. a majestic waterfall grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience grandiose hydroelectric projects but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration. grandiose schemes

Examples of stately in a Sentence

the governor watched with stately aloofness as his wife charmed the party guests a stately dowager in an evening gown

Recent Examples on the Web As lawmakers dug in for the second day at the stately hearing room in the Capitol, Nadler immediately asked for a full reading of the two articles of impeachment against the president as TV cameras carried the live proceedings. — Arkansas Online, "Impeachment hearing rancorous; divided panel moves House closer to vote," 13 Dec. 2019 Andrews’s authorial voice in Home Work is authentic; her narrative is stately, funny, open, and characterized by an outright refusal to indulge in self-pity. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Charming Candor of Julie Andrews’s New Memoir," 16 Oct. 2019 Webster’s defines gallant as splendid, stately, spirited, brave. — Regina Robertson, Essence, "Remembering The Magic Of Toni Morrison," 7 Aug. 2019 Natural light abounds in this charming East End cottage, situated on iconic Central Avenue with its stately sycamore trees. — Bang Staff And Correspondents, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: Charming East End cottage in Alameda," 1 July 2019 Aunt March is elevated from stodgy caricature to a stately matriarch who may be tough but is never not astute. — Lindsey Bahr, Houston Chronicle, "Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ is a new classic," 19 Dec. 2019 This month the stately monument moves from midtown Manhattan to its permanent location in Richmond, where it will be placed near the entrance to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. — Tanya A. Christian, Essence, "Regal Black Statue Unveiled In Former Capital Of The Confederacy + 9 Other Headlines We're Talking About," 18 Dec. 2019 The stately 1940 historical society museum, which originally served as housing for attendants from the Broadview Veterans Administration Hospital, provided an ideal setting for the collection. — cleveland, "Broadview Heights Historical Society wraps up successful Christmas display, settles into permanent home," 17 Dec. 2019 Next was a stately lunchtime town hall for about three hundred people in Creston. — Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, "Pete Buttigieg’s High Hopes," 16 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stately.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.