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

The iron security gates along Pennsylvania Avenue swung open and the presidential limo turned left, stopping a few yards later in front of Blair House, a stately white brick rowhouse with black shutters. — David Nakamura, The Seattle Times, "Trump uses eight-vehicle motorcade to travel 250 yards to greet George W. Bush," 4 Dec. 2018 Styling was located in the Argonaut Building, now renamed the Taubman Center, just behind the stately GM Building. — WSJ, "I am the Black Swan of the Chrome Fin Automobile Era," 27 Nov. 2018 The current owner's mother grew up here, and until her death a decade ago, never fell out of love with the stately mansion that was built for her family by her grandfather, a prominent lumberman. — Elizabeth Finkelstein, Country Living, "You Should Drop Everything and Buy This North Carolina Fixer-Upper," 2 Mar. 2017 Despite the dark wood paneling and stately portrait of G.W. himself, there is no hint of stiffness—but plenty of stiff drinks. — Stan Parish, WSJ, "A Splendid, (Mostly) Stationary Sunday at the Freehand New York," 10 Dec. 2018 The tiara, known as the Portland Tiara, belongs at home on the Welbeck Estate—a luxurious stately home in Nottinghamshire, England—but was mysteriously taken by thieves on Tuesday. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "A Royal Tiara Worth Millions Has Been Stolen by Thieves in Britain," 26 Nov. 2018 Adam CoatsRed SavannahCoats personally inspects every one of his villas, including that 300-acre estate on Menorca with its own private cove and those stately Cotswolds manors where the only neighbors are sheep. — Paul Brady, Condé Nast Traveler, "2018 Top Travel Specialists We Trust," 19 Oct. 2018 The neighborhood is part of the modern city built by Khedive Ismail in the 19th century, which was envisioned as a Paris on the Nile, with wide boulevards, traffic circles and stately European-style architecture. — Samy Magdy, Fox News, "Egypt razes historical Cairo district, angering residents," 15 Aug. 2018 As theatergoers enter, the stately but decrepit drawing room on stage is conspicuously lighted by modern, industrial fluorescents; as the play begins, those electric lights retract and chandeliers of flickering candles appear. — Jesse Oxfeld, Town & Country, "The Broadway Revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses Falls Flat," 31 Oct. 2016

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.