1
as in tall
extending to a great distance upward the ever-increasing lofty heights of the world's skyscrapers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude she acts all lofty and superior just because she went to an Ivy League college

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How does the adjective lofty contrast with its synonyms?

The words high and tall are common synonyms of lofty. While all three words mean "above the average in height," lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

When might high be a better fit than lofty?

The meanings of high and lofty largely overlap; however, 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 can tall be used instead of lofty?

Although the words tall and lofty have much in common, tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

Examples 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 lofty Nearly half of them even manage to climb to new peaks on the competitive chart, which is fairly rare for these types of tracks, which often debut in lofty positions and then disappear. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 In the vast constellation of New York City bagel shops, Absolute Bagels on the Upper West Side has held a lofty but unusual position of honor. New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024 Sora’s marketing is even a change from February, when OpenAI presented the video-generating model as a step toward the company’s lofty mission of creating technology more intelligent than humans. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024 Yet even those figures would pale in comparison with Musk’s lofty goals. Matt Egan, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lofty 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lofty
Adjective
  • While Cronin has stuck with the 6-foot-9 Bilodeau as his starting big man, the coach might need to pivot to more minutes for either Aday Mara or William Kyle III once the Bruins face taller Big Ten lineups.
    Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
  • My neighbor just won the tallest Christmas tree competition.
    Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Some media outlets are surrendering to Trump already This absurd boasting — arrogant without portfolio — is just what Trump is looking for in the VOA job.
    Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The single-camera series follows the arrogant, loudmouth U.S. Army Colonel Patrick Quinn (Leary), who, after an unfiltered rant, is reassigned to the Netherlands, where he is punished with a command position at the least important army base in the world.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Funny Christmas jokes for kids, knock-knocks, memes to make dad proud How to prepare for winter 2024 — from freezing pipes to driving in snow and ice Who created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
    Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 16 Dec. 2024
  • As of this week, there’s even a new Glossier product on the block sure to make Emily Weiss proud, a chubby eye shadow stick that’s excellent for accentuating even the most natural of makeup looks.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Through the interview and its absurd aftermath, Khalifah satirizes the idea of telling your story as a noble or even politically effective pursuit.
    Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
  • The noble folk in The Tale of Lady Ok are not always noble and justify their cruelty by their own interpretation of the strict hierarchical system.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Two months later in Disney Hall, Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted the Colburn Orchestra in a fiery yet eloquent performance of Sibelius’ Second Symphony, which was written at the beginning of the 20th century, when Finland was seeking cultural independence from Russia.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
  • On the other hand, this was a season- and career-defining game for those involved, as evidenced by Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s extremely emotional and eloquent postgame interview.
    Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Federal regulators predict strong economic growth and a more robust job market in 2025, along with higher inflation.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Life expectancy at birth is 82, a little higher than the OECD average of 81 years–the average man can expect to live to 79 and women to 85.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Rory Kinnear is the closest thing the film has to a protagonist as Henry Hunt, a haughty activist with poor social skills.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
  • But Rosie is no imperial-phase victory lap from a haughty A-lister.
    Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The two front runners have a great shot at taking home the trophy in Hunter and Jeanty.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Poor air quality from wildfires, vehicle exhaust, factories, and other sources takes a toll on lung health—but mounting research suggests that breathing unhealthy air can also put people at a greater risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near lofty

Cite this Entry

“Lofty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lofty. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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