TALL Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'tall' contrast with its synonyms?

The words high and lofty are common synonyms of tall . While all three words mean "above the average in height," tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness. // a tall thin man

Q: When can 'high' be used instead of 'tall'?

Although the words high and tall have much in common, high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level. // a high hill // a high ceiling

Q: When would 'lofty' be a good substitute for 'tall'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tall , lofty suggests great or imposing altitude. // lofty mountain peaks

tall

adjective

ˈtȯl

Definition of tall

as in high

extending to a great distance upward tall skyscrapers that cast long shadows over the park

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort that's a pretty tall order

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective tall contrast with its synonyms?

The words high and lofty are common synonyms of tall. While all three words mean "above the average in height," tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

When can high be used instead of tall?

Although the words high and tall have much in common, high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill

a high ceiling

When would lofty be a good substitute for tall?

While in some cases nearly identical to tall, lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

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 tall Its three rotating carbon masts are as tall as an eight-story palazzo, casting a silhouette that has by now become a fixture in the busy port where dozens of cruise ships dock each week. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026 The eighteen-meter-tall brick curve that encases the altar has a tremendous body, nearly ominous in its presence, that imparts an intuitive understanding—even amid the doubt—that what provides shelter necessarily does so through strength. — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026 Our earliest notable tall residential structures didn’t appear until the second and third decades of the 20th century and tended to be rather conservative in their appearance — think large swaths of Lake Shore Drive on the Gold Coast. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026 Kawasaki The bike also gets nifty touring extras like hand guards, aluminum engine guards, and a taller windshield as standard. — New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tall

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tall

Adjective

The high-scoring, deep-shooting affair continued seconds into the second half with Egor Denim beginning the third with another trey to give the Nets a 20-point lead.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 12 Nov. 2026
Jacob Cofie contributed 13 points, matched his career high with rebounds and dished out six assists and KJ Lewis scored 16 for USC (3-0), which dominated on the boards 53-36.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of high

Adjective

The pilot must compensate manually using the controller, which can be difficult if the aircraft is far away or difficult to see.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
The chocolatey all-suede style was first released in October 2023 and has become increasingly difficult to track down over the years, with certain sizes commanding premium prices on the secondary market.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

The Sandaloo features a towering, curved silhouette and is designed with a 130-mm block heel, a thick supportive platform, a dainty almond open toe and a delicate ankle strap.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026
As a result, as the elements of Jurek’s towering and astonishing crimes begin to click together, the plot quickly shifts, leading the narrative into entirely different and ever more haunting directions.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of towering

Adjective

Manufacturing electronic devices from it remains difficult, particularly because reliably controlling its electrical properties through doping is challenging.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Porter knew Friday’s game would be a challenging one against the Tillers.

— Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

The Heat now returns home, but the competition is about to get tougher.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
Councilwoman Willis has been a tough negotiator, challenging us to work with the City of Dallas transportation department to identify and fund meaningful traffic enhancements.

— CBS News, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

The Chiefs have a far more difficult remaining schedule (eighth hardest) than the Broncos do (27th), per DVOA data.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
The hardest part is often matching the format to the problem rather than simply choosing what’s most convenient.

— Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Their pass defense is specifically interesting, allowing over 227 passing yards per game, even while boasting one of the most talented and formidable defensive backfields in the game.

— Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2026
The formidable organization of Seminole County Democrats (aka the SemDems) was clearly a factor there.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

Success Academy Westland Hialeah Elementary is one of the first five schools of the nonprofit charter operator, known for its high test scores and rigorous culture, to co-locate inside Miami-Dade public schools.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
That history demands rigorous safeguards for any outside organization working with children, including comprehensive vetting, clear boundaries, close supervision and independent accountability.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Browse Nearby Words

talky

tall

tallied

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tall. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tall

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on tall

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

lissome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes