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
This single feast, emblematic of Fes’s cuisine, carries the taste of the courtly table of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad, the flavors served at the Alhambra in Islamic Andalucia, a blend of West African spices, and Amazigh know-how.
—
Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2025
When Elsbeth meets Alec (Ivan Hernandez) at a benefit (on the courtly arm of Dr. Yablonski, who has now popped up in each of Elsbeth’s three seasons to date), the aspiring mayoral candidate comes across as a Zohran Mamdani–inflected unifier.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2025
When Elsbeth meets Alec (Ivan Hernandez) at a benefit (on the courtly arm of Dr. Yablonski, who has now popped up in each of Elsbeth’s three seasons to date), the aspiring mayoral candidate comes across as a Zohran Mamdani–inflected unifier.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtly
Adjective
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Instead, this will be remembered as one of the most important victories of the young season if the Red Sox go on a run of graceful baseball.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Let the graceful creatures live amongst hearts, sparkles, and whatever other designs your heart desires.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Moon in your 8th House of Delicate Topics soothes handsome Jupiter in your 4th House of Roots.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
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This handsome boy is smart and loves to learn.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The spa Set over 27,000 square feet and four floors; the elegant Guerlain Spa and Pillar Wellbeing was created by the studio Goddard Littlefair.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Cabins are rustically elegant and come with one to four bedrooms.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Eden au Lac has been a Zürich institution since 1909—a fine figure of a lakeside hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
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In fine fashion, the speedy forward, who underwent groin surgery in the preseason after arriving in a trade with Nashville, struck a perfect cross that was headed into goal by Tyler Boyd, increasing the lead to 6-0 in the 70th minute.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Epstein also claimed that the prince had asked that he be allowed to see details of legal structures, organization charts, goals and initiatives of the Saudi central bank, the royal purse and the country’s sovereign wealth fund, his emails to Al-Sabbagh’s aide show.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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In this case, the building was once a school and, in its last iteration, a textile warehouse—nothing resembling its royal origins.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And Texas made a gallant comeback to tie the game at 77-77 when Pope coolly sank three consecutive free throws after getting fouled behind the arc with 3.8 seconds remaining.—
Kirk Bohls,
Houston Chronicle,
8 Mar. 2026
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More significant and symbolic than an ultimately gallant failure in Mumbai was the moment Harry Brook effectively dropped the World Cup with the last mistake of what has been the most turbulent period of his meteoric rise to become one of the best batters in the world.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courtly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtly. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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