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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

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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lordly
Adjective
  • These early years emphasized goofiness, offensiveness, and mocking arrogant celebrities who pushed their platforms at award shows.
    Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
  • The announcement was made during a backstage segment involving NXT General Manager Ava and the arrogant superstar Lexis King.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • For the Estarházy’s have been the preeminent Hungarian noble family, with origins in the Middle Ages and the greatest landowners, since long before 1776 was even a notion in the mind of Thomas Jefferson.
    Louis J. Esterhazy, Footwear News, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Some throw pillow shapes—namely ones that can do double duty as floor cushions when the occasion rises—are just superior, in our opinion.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Alongside Bates is Marshall, who plays Matty’s superior, Olympia.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • And Wednesday chooses her parents over her haughty grandmama Hester (Joanna Lumley).
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • However, the AmCham Shanghai survey found 14% of the respondents reported the environment for foreign businesses in China was worsening, with the tech sector seeing the highest challenges at 31% of industry respondents.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Sylvias have expressed some reservations about how cavalier Boy Kavalier has been toward the hybrids’ mental and physical health.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Other breeds on the list include Tibetan mastiff, spinone Italiano, cavalier king Charles spniel, Chinese crested, and dogue de Bordeaux, among the most popular.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Howard sells his smug malice, digging into Matt in a way no one has before until the whole thing devolves into a physical fight.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, Martineau’s sign angered plenty of Democrats, some of whom were already worried that smug liberal activists are harming the party.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lordly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lordly. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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