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
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2
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
his lordly attitude toward people who enjoy popular music
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3
as in noble
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature
born to great wealth, he has always displayed a lordly generosity toward the less fortunate
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Recent Examples of lordly
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
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 lordly
Adjective
-
Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Capitalize on the overwhelming support for legislative transparency and Spilka, Mariano and Attorney General Andea Campbell’s arrogant refusal to implement it.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
After all, Payton only weeks ago acknowledged Denver could be proud of a 14-3 season and simultaneously take a sober view of it.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and his wife, Izzy Smoke Nix, are the proud parents of a baby girl.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ducks backup Ville Husso got the call against the club that drafted and developed him, making 32 of 35 saves in a noble showing.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The actor originated the role of Lucky, the troubled yet noble son of soap super-couple Luke Spender (Anthony Geary) and Laura Collins (Genie Francis), in 1993.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The last two Super Bowls were decided by superior defenses.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In a news release last week, WBD said the Paramount offer was a superior proposal to the one offered by Netflix.—
Rodney Ho,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Oscar-winning British filmmaker crafts a sumptuous bad romance that’s quite haughty, darkly hilarious and ultimately heartfelt.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That Melania was remote, haughty, mysterious, beset by grievance and resentment.—
Katha Pollitt,
Washington Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The machine scanned the skull using bright, nondestructive X-rays, generating over 9,000 high-resolution images and terabytes of data.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Allen was led by fiesty 5-foot-6 guard Nehemiah Lawrence, who finished with a team high 19 points.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Get stuck with a cavalier team of baggage handlers, and it can even get soaked in your favorite fragrance or antiaging serum.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Students are cavalier about turning AI writing in to me.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Most everyone in attendance at 2220 seemed to be there to meet or support one of their favorite artists, one of the devout purists of our time who manages to remain that without getting smug, lazy or feral, all common pitfalls.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lordly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lordly. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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