lowly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlō-lē How to pronounce lowly (audio)
Definition of lowlynext
1
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank a tycoon who struggled all his life to overcome his lowly origins

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meek
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness the nuns at the convent regard themselves as lowly servants of the Lord

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lowly

2 of 2

adverb

as in humbly
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion lowly bowing before his king, he accepted his knighthood

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lowly
Adjective
In a battle of 0-4 AFC South teams, Houston coasted to a win over the lowly Titans. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Freiburg moved top of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory over Schalke, while Rennes closed the gap in the French league by beating lowly Auxerre 4-1. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Adverb
To win the division, the Ravens would need to win at Green Bay and Pittsburgh and have the Steelers lose to lowly Cleveland in Week 17. — CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025 Only lowly Oklahoma State, last and winless in the conference, is worse at scoring. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lowly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lowly
  1. low
  2. meek
  3. humbly
  4. humble
  5. modest
  6. meekly
  7. plebeian
  8. deferentially
Adjective
  • According to the cooperative, its Co+op Basics products, of which Field Day is a part, already offer prices up to 30% lower than comparable name-brand organic, natural, fair trade and non-GMO products.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Cothiere garnered a much lower vote share than Wilson did in the crowded eight-person August primary to Wilson.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Others seemed meek, with downcast eyes that refused to meet the camera.
    — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Moore plays Mona, a meek, thoroughly unseen wife and mother who impulsively decides to audition for a community theater musical despite having no experience.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of meek
Adverb
  • Related Stories Speaking to Variety on the red carpet at its London Film Festival premiere on Sunday, Garfield — who has been Oscar-nominated twice but never won — reacted humbly to the praise.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • And, as j-hope so humbly mentioned, the awards are just another milestone to add to what has already been a massive year for the group.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of humbly
Adjective
  • Becoming the first Latino directly elected to California’s highest office is a distinction Becerra was reluctant to promote on the campaign trail, preferring instead to focus on his humble roots.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Some fruits like blueberries and strawberries are thought of even past their peak seasons, while the humble cranberry only takes center stage at Thanksgiving or when trying to quell a urinary tract infection (UTI).
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of humble
Adjective
  • Despite his long-standing presence in California politics, the modest Becerra initially struggled to energize support for his gubernatorial campaign.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • For Nafousi, having sold two million copies of her book, 12,000 starting units felt relatively modest by comparison, but surplus stock and resulting production delays quickly became an issue.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of modest
Adverb
  • Instead of going down meekly to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Milwaukee Brewers swept the National League Championship Series and are headed to the World Series.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Brewers, of course, sealed the deal with two runs on three singles in the bottom of the eighth, and the Dodgers went meekly 1-2-3 in the ninth.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of meekly
Adjective
  • Linen and cotton, cooling garments, were too plebeian; the people posed nobly for street-style social-media accounts in leather jackets and low-slung jorts.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
  • This one is about a regular old guy, a hedge knight in the plebeian population of Westeros, just trying to get by in a world that isn't kind to the common and poor.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of plebeian
Adverb
  • Precedent thus gave the judge reason to deferentially review settlement terms.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
  • Scorsese shoots them beautifully and deferentially.
    — Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of deferentially

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Cite this Entry

“Lowly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lowly. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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