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

Relevance

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 Each new release of a frontier AI model, such as Anthropic’s Mythos or OpenAI’s Astra, brings a new wave of speculation over how much closer this takes us to artificial general intelligence (AGI) and how much further that lofty goal remains. — Noah Giansiracusa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026 Fortifying the railroad system at Chattogram Port could help Bangladesh come closer to meeting the lofty export target. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Dorsey had an all-time game this fall that lives up to his lofty ranking, intercepting four passes against North Clayton. — Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Kessler is the next center in line, the next big man who will try to live up to those lofty standards. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lofty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lofty

Adjective

An infusion pump hangs from a pole beside him; sunlight pours through tall windows in the background.

— Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
These pumps are for the girl who tends to favor a flat—after all, the heel is less than an inch tall.

— Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of tall

Adjective

Using an acronym meant for minor zoning squabbles against resistance to a massive, 80 mph express train slicing through dense residential blocks is an arrogant posture that completely obscures the true nature of this unconscionable project.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Steve Buscemi as Harry’s regular fence; Tatiana Maslany as his estranged daughter; and Will Price as the arrogant, heat-packing scion of a Manhattan crime family also star.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Now, Foxx not only has a new outlook on life, but is a proud dad of three.

— Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
Takeshi’s father is a petty and proud man, in ways continually expanded upon throughout the film’s runtime, though how he’s actually framed never truly changes.

— Kambole Campbell, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of proud

Adjective

More than a century later, his tale of a centuries-old Transylvanian noble and vampire keeps succeeding, most recently in audio.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
That works just fine for this season’s noble arc, but that same polish that’s arguably warranted now does little to suggest future seasons will be willing to wrestle with whatever truth may exist in Cash’s warning.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of noble

Adjective

Baitz’s verbal gymnastics aren’t a good fit for Harris, who is at his most eloquent when his characters are at a loss for words.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
One fascination of this brave book—brave in its disclosures but more so in its demands, its spiritual rigor, and its ardent intellectualism—lies in watching the eloquent, intelligent sufferer steadily entrapping herself.

— James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of eloquent

Adjective

Attendance is up, teacher pay is at its highest level in district history, and more of our strongest educators are staying in the classroom.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026
When elections yield a divided government, with the White House held by one party and at least one chamber of Congress controlled by the other, the S&P 500 has historically posted higher average returns than under unified party control.

— , CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of high

Adjective

Piper brings plenty of levity with her glamorous, haughty embodiment of an old showbusiness powerhouse.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2026
Vying for dominance as well are the haughty, self-serving bureaucrats of the area’s bustling capital of South Wood (Jemaine Clement, Marc Evan Jackson), who pull their political strings from the relative safety of the grand Pittock Mansion.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of haughty

Adjective

The 39-year-old Crosby broke his tie with Kings great Marcel Dionne by scoring his 1,772nd point when Evgeni Malkin's one-timer deflected in off him in the second period.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
The 39-year-old Crosby broke his tie with Kings great Marcel Dionne by scoring his 1,772nd point when Evgeni Malkin’s one-timer deflected in off him in the second period.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of great

Browse Nearby Words

lofts

lofty

log

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lofty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lofty. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of lofty

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

defer

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes