Synonyms of stately

stately

adjective

ˈstāt-lē 

1

as in imposing

having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner

the governor watched with stately aloofness as his wife charmed the party guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• imposing
• solemn
• portly
• distinguished
• dignified
• aristocratic
• decorous
• staid
• elegant
• handsome
• distingué
• august
• somber
• proper
• majestic
• magisterial
• seemly
• lordly
• grim
• grave
• po-faced
• noble
• sober
• elevated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• frivolous
• silly
• goofy
• undignified
• giddy
• uncouth
• crude
• improper
• coarse
• unseemly
• vulgar
• flighty
• indecent
• crass

2

as in graceful

having or showing elegance

a stately dowager in an evening gown

Synonyms & Similar Words

• graceful
• handsome
• elegant
• majestic
• courtly
• fine
• regal
• magnificent
• royal
• gallant
• glorious
• luxurious
• proud
• grand
• classy
• aristocratic
• tasteful
• stylish
• ornate
• simple
• noble
• rich
• refined
• superb
• quiet
• lavish
• imposing
• sophisticated
• baronial
• fashionable
• monumental
• exquisite
• heroic
• sleek
• polished
• splendid
• genteel
• classic
• understated
• patrician
• conservative
• restrained
• chic
• august
• artful
• swank
• modish
• ostentatious
• posh
• in
• grandiose
• pretentious
• smart
• swagger
• snappy
• sharp
• recherché
• affected
• à la mode

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfashionable
• graceless
• dowdy
• inelegant
• gaudy
• loud
• garish
• flamboyant
• tasteless
• raffish
• flashy
• grotesque
• crude
• coarse
• tawdry
• glitzy
• tacky
• splashy
• unhandsome
• uncouth
• cheesy
• unstylish
• styleless
• vulgar
• trashy
• unpolished
• rude
• uncultured
• uncultivated
• unrefined
• ticky-tacky
• rough-hewn
• rough-edged

3

as in magnificent

large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception

stately plantation homes that are now open to the public as museums

Synonyms & Similar Words

• magnificent
• glorious
• imposing
• majestic
• epic
• regal
• grand
• royal
• massive
• proud
• imperial
• monumental
• impressive
• gallant
• operatic
• colossal
• heroic
• noble
• wonderful
• splendid
• grandiose
• luxurious
• baronial
• Homeric
• lavish
• august
• formidable
• remarkable
• tremendous
• kingly
• princely
• cosmic
• gorgeous
• sublime
• marvelous
• queenly
• extraordinary
• extravagant
• lordly
• palatial
• superb
• monstrous
• wondrous
• stupendous
• magnific
• striking
• awesome
• terrific
• prodigious
• opulent
• sumptuous
• celestial
• divine
• heavenly
• apocalyptic
• inflated
• redoubtable
• prepossessing
• pompous
• resplendent
• awful
• sensational
• palatine
• overblown
• killer
• splendiferous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humble
• modest
• lowly
• unimpressive
• unprepossessing
• unimposing
• ordinary
• average
• common
• unheroic
• shabby
• sordid
• abject
• mediocre
• mean
• meretricious
• trifling
• petty
• puny
• trivial
• second-rate
• insignificant
• paltry
• run-of-the-mill
• measly

4

as in majestic

very dignified in form, tone, or style

a stately composition that has served as the musical accompaniment for countless graduations and other ceremonial occasions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• majestic
• formal
• eloquent
• graceful
• towering
• cultured
• rhetorical
• lofty
• aristocratic
• literary
• elevated
• grammatical
• courtly
• proper
• florid
• bombastic
• high-flown
• grandiose
• flowery
• declamatory
• grandiloquent
• fine
• patrician
• pretentious
• refined
• pompous
• classy
• oratorical
• educated
• tasteful
• stilted
• genteel
• correct
• affected
• Attic
• academic
• highfalutin
• learned
• bookish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• undignified
• informal
• casual
• colloquial
• conversational
• uncouth
• vernacular
• slangy
• common
• unliterary
• vulgar
• crude
• coarse
• nonformal
• rough
• ineloquent
• gross
• crass
• rude
• unpolished
• indecent
• uncultured
• unrefined
• uncultivated
• tasteless
• lowbrow
• rough-hewn
• substandard
• incorrect
• ungrammatical
• uneducated
• unlearned
• unbookish
• ill-bred
• lowbred

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stately differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of stately are grandiose, grand, imposing, magnificent, and majestic. While all these words mean "large and impressive," stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.

the stately procession

When can grand be used instead of stately?

Although the words grand and stately have much in common, grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.

a grand staircase

Where would grandiose be a reasonable alternative to stately?

The synonyms grandiose and stately are sometimes interchangeable, but grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience, but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration.

grandiose hydroelectric projects

grandiose schemes

When would imposing be a good substitute for stately?

The words imposing and stately are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.

an imposing edifice

When is it sensible to use magnificent instead of stately?

While in some cases nearly identical to stately, magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste.

magnificent paintings

How is majestic related to other words for stately?

Majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.

a majestic waterfall

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stately

The stately eight-bedroom home underwent $2 million worth of renovations in 2001 and hit the market for rental at $20,000 a month. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026

Most stately Southern porches around the lake had a variation of gingham check on porch swings, rocking chairs, or cushions to complement their patriotic bunting. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 June 2026

Rooms are stately and serene, outfitted in muted tones like cream and taupe, with sweeping views of the bay. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026

The tall and stately foxgloves also add lovely vertical interest to any garden, Martha says. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026