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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in difficult

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

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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 Starship, which stands more than 400 feet (122 meters) tall, is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, and it's designed to be fully and rapidly reusable. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Julian never grew taller than five feet seven and reportedly didn’t receive any Division I college scholarships; Jaden averaged less than one point per game across three seasons for California State University, Los Angeles, a Division II program. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 Sometimes, the tallest linemen are affected by undersized players winning with leverage. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has officially been encapsulated inside the Falcon Heavy rocket’s 43-foot-tall fairing, which protects the spacecraft on its trip through Earth's atmosphere. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tall

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tall

Adjective

This isn’t unusual for the agency; in April, USPS raised prices by 8% due to higher fuel costs.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning that applies to more than 1 million people in San Diego County, mostly across inland valleys, foothills and mountains where high temperatures will approach or exceed 95 to 114 degrees.

— Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of high

Adjective

The California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.

— Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Told through Bearden’s own words and archives, the film reintroduces a towering yet underrecognized modernist, athlete, and activist whose influence still shapes contemporary culture.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
The lush valleys flanking the Teahupo’o coastline are full of drama, with towering, jagged peaks and vertiginous ridges—many far off the grid and only accessible via boat.

— Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of towering

Adjective

Sharing her new life on social media helped give Hoadley a sense of empowerment despite her challenging circumstances.

— Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers’ remarkable debut novel tells a story of the American South, one set in Georgia and peopled with a cast of characters that exist in a rich, layered, and challenging reality.

— Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

The war, and in particular Iran’s direct targeting of the Gulf, makes this approach a tough pill to swallow.

— Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
The conversation shifted from tougher ordinances toward resource allocation and investing in third spaces, which are places outside of work, school or home.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Sunday’s game was the first time since Cunningham was taken down by the Sky’s DiJonai Carrington on a hard foul on a fast break earlier this month.

— Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Other majors, such as engineering, with its extensive math requirements, have been harder to shrink.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Banks wrote this piece as an ensemble work, not as a showcase for his formidable instrumental prowess.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
So does Kevin Reddington, the formidable defense attorney who is representing Clancy in her criminal trial, taking place in Plymouth, which is being live-streamed on the Internet and heavily covered on local news.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

Every personal finance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of home loan products.

— Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
But alongside serious thinkers such as Rankine, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Saidiya Hartman, less rigorous writers and ideas were also elevated.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rigorous

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tall

tallied

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“Tall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tall. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tall

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