as in graceful
having or showing elegance
his courtly manners made him a favorite escort of widowed socialites
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Recent Examples of courtly
And so, despite some emotionally satiating patriotic rhetoric on the campaign trail, Carney was deferential and complimentary to Trump on his courtly visit to the Oval Office shortly after winning the election.
—
Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
For any living room that could use a charming focal point, this number from MacKenzie Childs in its signature courtly check indicates style and design know-how.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 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
Not long after her wedding to Wu Ding, her father-in-law the king died, and the family was obligated to formally mourn and abstain from courtly life for three years.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
For any living room that could use a charming focal point, this number from MacKenzie Childs in its signature courtly check indicates style and design know-how.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 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
Not long after her wedding to Wu Ding, her father-in-law the king died, and the family was obligated to formally mourn and abstain from courtly life for three years.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtly
Adjective
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Just like Tarzan’s graceful swing from vine to vine, the elephant graveyard was just a bit of movie script invention.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
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It’s estimated that about 100 of the hulking-yet-graceful animals live in the lower stretch of the San Gabriel River, where salt and freshwater commingle.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Mother of two children with her sarcastic, smart and handsome husband.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
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That’s actually a handsome return on investment, relatively speaking.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What waits behind the greenhouses and garden beds is a sprawling oasis of elegant indoor-outdoor dining with a secret garden appeal that feels worlds away from the chain restaurants nearby.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
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Soprano Nicole Car’s initially elegant Elizabeth accumulates both physical and vocal intensity as the opera exposes more and more skulduggery around her.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There is no grace period for this law, meaning trans and nonbinary people will have immediately invalid documents putting them at risk of a US$1,000 fine and up to six months in jail for driving with an invalid license.—
Noelle Martin,
The Conversation,
1 Mar. 2026
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Small shrubs such as roses can be covered in fine netting during the peak of beetle season.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The recent arrest of former prince Andrew has left the British royal family in the position of having to explain themselves.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 Mar. 2026
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While plot details haven’t been confirmed, the film will reportedly center on Aegon I, the first Lord of the Seven Kingdoms who spawned the Targaryen dynasty — the royal family at the heart of the entire franchise.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Tilt and the gallant escort was replaced by a boy too traumatized to leave his mother’s side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
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While Son of Hitler takes plenty of creative liberty when the titular character is recruited to assassinate his famous father for the Allies, the fate of the real-life Loret isn’t so gallant.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courtly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtly. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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