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
The courtly Time-magazine essayist who described the American Century with wit, outrage, and wry wisdom
By Roger Rosenblatt
Read On
The Seasoned Traveler
Enrique Olvera The Mexican chef behind Cosme and Pujol reveals his travel routine
Read On
Going Anywhere Soon?
—
airmail.news, 7 Dec. 2024
In the video, guests dressed for an Instagrammable, Regency-era ball, while an orchestra played music for courtly dances and Lopez sat on a throne, holding court as her own version of Queen Charlotte.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
From there, ravioli made its way into the courtly kitchens of the northern provinces.
—Dawn Davis Sharon Radisch Soneela Nankani Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 13 May 2024
At 21, George crossed paths with James I, who also ruled Scotland as King James VI, in August 1614 at Apethorpe, a courtly home in rural Northamptonshire.
—TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for courtly
airmail.news, 7 Dec. 2024
In the video, guests dressed for an Instagrammable, Regency-era ball, while an orchestra played music for courtly dances and Lopez sat on a throne, holding court as her own version of Queen Charlotte.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
From there, ravioli made its way into the courtly kitchens of the northern provinces.
—Dawn Davis Sharon Radisch Soneela Nankani Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 13 May 2024
At 21, George crossed paths with James I, who also ruled Scotland as King James VI, in August 1614 at Apethorpe, a courtly home in rural Northamptonshire.
—TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtly
Adjective
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This is graceful, quietly intelligent filmmaking—including a touch of unsentimental magic realism involving a wise and beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
23 May 2025
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Marked by a graceful melancholia and filled with daunting technical feats, especially the director’s signature, logistics-defying long takes, his films are beautifully realized meditations on nostalgia and loss in which the cinema tends to be a character itself.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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The handsome and charismatic Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an Anglican son of a duke, renounced his title and commanded the society’s militia.—
Joseph Patrick Kelly,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
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Ian had been handsome, popular, in love with a new girlfriend—the kind of golden boy upon whom fortune smiles.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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To bring back that upscale aesthetic, the Casino Royal will have a dress code that requires jackets for men and elegant dress for women.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
13 May 2025
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In 2024, Evangelista made an elegant return to the Met Gala.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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There have been constant rumors the attacker has been close to signing a new contract at San Siro, but a deal has not yet been agreed and there may well be Champions League clubs interested in him this summer after his fine personal form during the team’s otherwise tumultuous campaign.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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The team first crushes the rocks into fine grains and separates out the zircons using dense liquids and magnetic fields.—
Ella Jeffries,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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As if that wasn’t enough, a parade of royal camels welcomed Trump outside the Amiri Diwan, Qatar’s presidential office.—
Natasha Turak,
CNBC,
16 May 2025
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Beatrice made multiple royal appearances this week, making a return to public life after the birth of her second child, daughter Athena, who was born prematurely.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Luckily, her gallant Eddington co-stars Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal were there to protect her from the crazed abeille.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
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Marvel’s Thunderbolts* brings together a huge ensemble cast for a less gallant take on the MCU.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Courtly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtly. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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