as in graceful
having or showing elegance
his courtly manners made him a favorite escort of widowed socialites
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of courtly
But Ed presents himself with a no-frills courtly reticence that’s equal parts politeness and caution.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2025
All this evidence suggests that the earliest tarot deck may have been used for little more than a courtly card game, an exquisite plaything for the super-rich.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
The Tale of Genji ’s early chapters are rooted in fairy-tale monogatari, but the book soon metamorphoses into its own strange thing, a courtly romance that follows Prince Genji over his half century of life, and then, after Genji’s death, takes up the lives of the next generation.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
In France, a courtlier breed of tooth pullers began to cater to the affluent in the late seventeenth century.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2025
All this evidence suggests that the earliest tarot deck may have been used for little more than a courtly card game, an exquisite plaything for the super-rich.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
The Tale of Genji ’s early chapters are rooted in fairy-tale monogatari, but the book soon metamorphoses into its own strange thing, a courtly romance that follows Prince Genji over his half century of life, and then, after Genji’s death, takes up the lives of the next generation.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
In France, a courtlier breed of tooth pullers began to cater to the affluent in the late seventeenth century.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtly
Adjective
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Characterized by graceful, winding arms that spiral out from a bright central bulge, these systems are rich with both young and old stars, swirling gas and cosmic dust.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
After winning over America with his epic one-liners and graceful skates, Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon tackled the dance floor alongside partner Jenna Johnson.—
Diana Pearl,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
His face, while not exactly handsome, nevertheless has a certain charisma to it, a monkey-like instinct for comedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Who will free us from the handsome British issue drama?—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Softstreme High-rise Wide-leg Cropped Pant has a weighty drape that adds an elegant edge to what otherwise feels like loungewear, given how remarkably soft the Softstreme fabric is.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
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The long-sleeve polo sweater has elegant pearl buttons that pop against the sweater’s neutral color.—
Melony Forcier,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Wolvaardt a fine century on the back of her impressive semifinal performance.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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Dark Renaissance will teach you a great deal about Marlowe’s brilliance and the Elizabethan era—its theater, the aristocracy, the spy craft, and the finer points of drawing and quartering religious dissidents.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In 2020, Harry and Markle stepped away from their royal duties and later moved to Montecito, California.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Battling cancer is a really hard thing, and the royal family has had two of its members doing so in the last few years.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
And yet, welcoming that idea can shock the system because our popular conception of the American Revolution is so often encased in bloodless, gallant myth.—
Sarah Botstein,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The experience of secession, of war, of industrial slaughter and gallant sacrifice, of Black soldiery and humanity all reforged Lincoln into a stronger alloy.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Courtly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtly. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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