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

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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

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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 lofty Climbing Into the Canopy Deep in the remote Amazon rainforest, three lofty towers jut out of the canopy. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 Even by his own lofty standards, the quarterback had an incredible season last year, leading the league in passing yards, completions and touchdowns. Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025 So, to honor my 39 years as a California journalist – and as a reminder of the Golden State’s lofty economic stature – let my trusty spreadsheet play cheerleader for the day. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025 With this year being Redtail’s first profitable one, though, the couple doesn’t want to set too lofty of targets. Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lofty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lofty
Adjective
  • At around the same time, a tall, college-aged man carrying a black backpack made his way up the stairwell of the nearby Losee Center, a four-story concrete building that houses the student welcome center, among other things.
    Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Zane played the arrogant Cal Hockley, who was engaged to Jack's love interest, Rose (played by Kate Winslet).
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • As Cantillo dissected his outing, Hedges peered over at him, beaming like a proud father.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But the proud Eugene will not hear of it.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Tucked into the whispering meadows of the Netherlands, Hof van Saksen is a majestic eco-resort—a former noble estate reborn as a family-first urban oasis spanning over 160 lush acres.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The affection Agnes holds for her children and the anger aimed at her husband, not to mention a world cruel enough to rob her of a child, are both tuned with precision to crack your noble heart.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The rom-com canon receives a meaty and eloquent addition thanks to the acclaimed cast, consisting of Nicole Beharie, André Holland, and DeWanda Wise.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Even the man who wrote eloquent romantic soliloquies that have endured centuries still royally pissed off his wife on the regular.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Turkish Defense Ministry/AP Key Takeaways Larger carriers carry more aircraft, fuel, and supplies for longer operations but come with higher costs, bigger crews, greater risk from advanced weapons, and trouble in tight or shallow waters.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Linebacker Luke Ferrelli, a redshirt freshman from Carlsbad High School, has a team-high 27 tackles, followed by junior linebacker Cade Uluave (24) and junior defensive back Isaiah Crosby (21).
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Lellouche stars as unlikely hero Zem, a disillusioned Zone 3 cop with an idealistic militant past, who is teamed with haughty, high-flying Zone 2 officer Salia, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, after a leading politician is assassinated in Zone 1.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Anyier Anei is Ada, a newbie model from South Sudan by way of Kenya, wide-eyed and hungry as she’s tossed into a maelstrom of haughty men and clubgoing sisters in strutting.
    Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet his work does demand greater attention.
    Mark Holgate, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Europe staged one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history, winning eight matches and halving another to clinch the Cup by half a point.
    Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lofty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lofty. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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