loftiness 1 of 2

lofty

2 of 2

adjective

1
as in tall
extending to a great distance upward the ever-increasing lofty heights of the world's skyscrapers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude she acts all lofty and superior just because she went to an Ivy League college

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lofty contrast with its synonyms?

The words high and tall are common synonyms of lofty. While all three words mean "above the average in height," lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

When might high be a better fit than lofty?

The meanings of high and lofty largely overlap; however, high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill
a high ceiling

When can tall be used instead of lofty?

Although the words tall and lofty have much in common, tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loftiness
Adjective
For all the lofty historical comparisons, sometimes the ordinariness of this moment is what strikes me most. Christopher Hale, Time, 9 May 2025 And Tucker achieved that lofty status with the Ravens despite playing a position that doesn’t often lend itself to celebrity and fanfare. Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 6 May 2025 After the section’s top 12 teams are byed into the three-division playoffs, those not given such lofty ratings are then challenged to win their way into the section championships. Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025 Investors had lofty expectations for the cloud businesses, which were reinforced by Microsoft and Google's results and raised expectations for Amazon's AWS, said Will Rhind, CEO of global ETF issuer GraniteShares. Deborah Mary Sophia and Arriana McLymore, USA Today, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for loftiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loftiness
Noun
  • The Knicks have pulled it off by being resilient, near perfect in spurts and with the help of arrogance from the opponent.
    James L. Edwards III, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Built to haul small satellites to orbit, the rocket stands 82 feet (25 meters) tall and has an unusual design for a modern launcher, with three stages, each powered by hybrid engines burning a proprietary solid fuel mixed with a liquid oxidizer.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025
  • Keep a distance from tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • By losing some of its arrogant charm, Doom has also lost the means to back it up.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
  • For example, when a man in his sixties talks about the same thing, he’s seen as calm and logical, but when a woman in her twenties talks about it, she’s seen as arrogant or trying to act mature.
    Billboard Japan, Billboard, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • In the next round that year, Boston lost Game 6 at home to the Heat before knocking out Jimmy Butler and his proud team by capturing Game 7 in Miami.
    Jay King, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Which one of her books was turned into a 1995 film directed by Ang Lee, from a script written by Emma Thompson? 2 of 5 What is the name of the series that adapts Julia Quinn’s Regency-era romance novels about eight siblings in a noble family and their adventures in London’s high-society world?
    J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • The Idol was almost a noble failure, a psychically damaging look into the pop ecosystem that had the decency to fictionalize rather than mythologize its star.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • From crafting eloquent emails to optimizing complex logistics, AI offers immense convenience, a smooth handover of mental effort.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • LaBeouf delivers this confession with an eloquent conviction that’s a little uncanny.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • During an interview with Josh Martinez of Z100 on Superstar Crossover, Ospreay stated AEW's superiority in the current wrestling landscape.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • And they’ve been romanticized for nearly as long by foreign travelers who see an espresso bar and long counter full of hot foods, panini, and piles of prosciutto as a sign of culinary superiority.
    Lindsey Tramuta, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • Similarly, home equity loans and lines of credit tend to have high interest rates: in the mid-8% range as of mid-May, according to Bankrate.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • The stakes are high for FAMU, which is still reeling from past leadership controversies.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Loftiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loftiness. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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