lordliness 1 of 2

lordly

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adjective

1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude one dinner guest was a little lordly about her status as a vegetarian, even asking the other diners how they could bear to eat dead animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lordly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lordly are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, insolent, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

When is arrogant a more appropriate choice than lordly?

The synonyms arrogant and lordly are sometimes interchangeable, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When could disdainful be used to replace lordly?

The words disdainful and lordly can be used in similar contexts, but disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

In what contexts can haughty take the place of lordly?

While in some cases nearly identical to lordly, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

When can insolent be used instead of lordly?

In some situations, the words insolent and lordly are roughly equivalent. However, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When might overbearing be a better fit than lordly?

While the synonyms overbearing and lordly are close in meaning, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

Where would proud be a reasonable alternative to lordly?

The meanings of proud and lordly largely overlap; however, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When would supercilious be a good substitute for lordly?

The words supercilious and lordly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

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 lordliness
Adjective
But the cruelty and callousness of the lordly class infuses it all. Ky Henderson, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2024 The surge ended in the World Series, the lordly Yankees winning in six games, but Mays was on his way and Durocher gave him full credit. Mike Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024 The portrait of Markram that ultimately emerges is of a lordly sovereign stalking the halls of an island mansion, an autumn of the scientific patriarch. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2022 What comes next is a showdown between her force and his financial clout, between labor and the lordly class. Amy Nicholson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022 From 1958 to 1961, sulking Giants and Dodgers fans had to put up with the lordly Yankees winning three pennants and two World Series. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2022 The lordly African lion in his zoo grotto will cast a sentimental glance at his shaggy mate. San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2022 Player for player Atlanta shouldn’t be scaring the lordly Dodgers like this. Ray Glier, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lordliness
Noun
  • Blenkin told Variety in September 2025 that his character's laughter comes from arrogance.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Nishijima brings his characteristic intensity to Kenji, a man whose academic arrogance masks deep insecurity and desperation.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Commissioner Cristina Eveillard later said the sheriff was arrogant.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The lies begin as soon as Max encounters Guillermo, an arrogant nepo baby who blamed him for Ane’s death but now pretends to accept his apology.
    Judy Berman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The low-key setting — a 6-0 thrashing of third tier opposition in the Carabao Cup third round — does not diminish the quality of strikes that Gomez’s former Inter Miami team-mate Lionel Messi would have been proud of.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • In the carousel, the proud parents shared the first photos of their newborn, as well as several pictures of their family of four.
    Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Zarutska, who fled Kyiv to the United States in 2022 to escape Russia’s invasion, was described as confident, beautiful, and noble by her family in an interview with The Charlotte Observer.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2025
  • That's not to say that progress is not a noble goal.
    Senior Reporter, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With over 600 DEXs now operating according to Grvt’s estimates, pure technological superiority or lower fees no longer guarantee success.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Not to mention the moral superiority gap it’s widened in conversations between the thin and the not thin enough.
    Allison Lax, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Armed with tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, SSGNs are capable of directly supporting Combatant Commander's strike and Special Operation Forces (SOF) requirements.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The company is building industrial-grade robotic platforms that are commercializing NASA’s robotic hand IP to deliver superior dexterity for skilled jobs.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In the small Campo dei Tolentini, presided over by the haughty neoclassical columns of the eponymous church, a queue straggles from a tiny bar.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The message should be to avoid acetaminophen during pregnancy for minor ailments, but take high fever seriously.
    Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Refinance demand, which had spiked dramatically higher the week before, climbed just 1% for the week but was 42% higher than the same week one year ago.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lordliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lordliness. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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