LOFTY Synonyms: 297 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

lofty

adjective

ˈlȯf-tē

Definition of lofty

as in tall

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in proud

having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself his lofty attitude toward menial chores really rankles the other camp counselors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in noble

having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature remained true to the cause's lofty ideals, regardless of the changing winds of popular opinion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in eloquent

very dignified in form, tone, or style the lofty nature of the coronation ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lofty The government had announced on Sunday the lofty goal of retaking all Houthi territory — home to most of Yemen's population, and much of it held for more than a decade. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026 The CloudFluff Comforter wraps you in super-soft knitted cotton that breathes and stretches, with whole-piece feather silk filling for a lofty, cozy feel without the weight. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 The Heat are confident to start the season, but there are multiple reasons to think the team’s lofty goals might not be obtainable in a remade and loaded East. — Doug Haller, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 The coming IPOs from Anthropic and OpenAI will surely bring more debate over whether their revenue can catch up to the labs’ lofty valuations. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lofty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lofty

Adjective

Goliath reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour and is 200 feet tall, according to the park's website.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Elyton Hotel, now a Marriott property, occupies the stunning landmark Beaux Arts Empire Building, which was the tallest building in Alabama when it was built in 1909.

— Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of tall

Adjective

The locker real estate in the team’s second arena was something the proud parent didn’t even consider as part of his son’s Heat takeover.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Musk’s forthright, crusty dad Errol sounds almost proud that something was bullied out of his son, but the movie avoids filling out that traumatic childhood.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of proud

Adjective

In the cursed days of auto-sync, pre-mixed sets, and the celebrity spinner, few have done as much to defend the noble art of the DJ as Felix Manuel, aka Djrum, a selector who combines galactically expansive taste with equally vast technical skill.

— Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2026
They are fueled by the noble goal of encouraging healthy habits but run the risk of feeling accusatory, rendering the subject unbroachable.

— Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of noble

Adjective

The preschoolers who had a tough time delaying gratification— who ate the first marshmallow—were less academically and socially skilled, eloquent, attentive, and not as good at managing frustration in adolescence.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Fittingly, this is a very American intersection of wealth and power, the exact kind of problem about which James Baldwin was always so eloquent and incisive.

— James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of eloquent

Adjective

Of the 13 most competitive Senate races, seven Republicans have expressed skepticism or outright opposition to the agreement that is unlikely to significantly affect high diesel costs contributing to broader inflation.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Storyteller Overland Powering up the sockets and appliances, the Gear Mode packs in 4+ kWh of Lithionics batteries that send power through a 2,000-W inverter and charge while driving through a high-output auxiliary alternator.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of high

Adjective

Snell wanted the Dashwoods to dress as if no whole costume team is coordinating things behind them — though haughty sister-in-law Fanny (Stacy Martin) is another matter.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
Hermetically sealed tableaux of haughty models daring you to look away from their perfection.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of haughty

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lofts

lofty

log

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“Lofty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lofty. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lofty

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