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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 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 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 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 The latest entry in the MCU picked up $90.7 million internationally, which pushes its global total to a lordly $161.7 million. Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Nov. 2021 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
  • That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately?
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong are proud of the state of stoner comedy.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 3 May 2025
  • The proud regionality of Italy is one such example and this book shows it off beautifully.
    Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • The coat of arms above serves as the door for the ‘most noble, most loyal, most valiant and always loyal’.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But even if Van Hollen’s motivation for going to El Salvador was less than noble, the truth is there are things more important than the political fight of the day.
    Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The partial answer, one that feels weirdly isolated from just about everything else in the show, is that the detention center has a drama program whose teacher (Bat-Chen Sabag) sees something extraordinary in him—the same thing that makes Zoro perceive Dean as superior and thus worth protecting.
    Judy Berman, Time, 2 May 2025
  • Collectively, these developments point to robotics as a new standard of care—one that delivers superior outcomes for patients facing a wide range of serious conditions.
    Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • As the daughter of the haughty Chodron de Courcel and Brondeau d’Urtières families, Bernadette never lacks confidence.
    Armond White, National Review, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Schwarzenegger stars as the haughty, sleazy eldest son of a wealthy family whose patriarch and matriarch are portrayed by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey, respectively.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • With their flood of light and color, Yi Ming’s paintings have sold for high prices at charity auctions and have brought the artists invitations to design work for events both in China and abroad.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • So, higher cocoa prices hit the bottom line directly.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The cavalier way that Jon Hamm’s Matt dials up another decade of punishment in solitary confinement for his digital egg prisoner and takes a nonchalant sip of coffee is one of the most devilish on-screen actions in TV history.
    Steve Greene, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
  • These include basset hounds; beagles; bulldogs; cavalier king Charles spaniels; collies; golden retrievers; Labrador retrievers; papillons; and pugs.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The washers contain a large haul of cocaine, which Mia and Charlie are tasked with delivering to the Chinatown hangout of smug young local Triad boss Tsui Fong (Jeremy Ang Jones) to square up a debt.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
  • This brings me back to the siege of Jackson, which happens at the same time as Abby’s smug speechifying and Joel-torturing up at the lodge.
    Noel Murray, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lordly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lordly. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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