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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in graceful
having or showing elegance
a stately dowager in an evening gown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stately
The auteur can now cross another genre off his bucket list with The Samurai and the Prisoner (Kokurojo), a stately and rather stagy historical mystery set during the 16th century, at a time when warring clans fought and outmaneuvered each other for control of the land.
—
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026
With stately wraparound porches, rocking chairs, and views of the Guadalupe River, Gruene Mansion Inn is the only hotel located in the historic district.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
No more stately Governor’s Mansion.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
Instead of soft neutrals, the color palette is black and white, with the Montegranaro splatterware rendered in black, and the Bevagna collection of ceramics adorned with a stately black rim detail.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stately
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026
With stately wraparound porches, rocking chairs, and views of the Guadalupe River, Gruene Mansion Inn is the only hotel located in the historic district.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
No more stately Governor’s Mansion.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
Instead of soft neutrals, the color palette is black and white, with the Montegranaro splatterware rendered in black, and the Bevagna collection of ceramics adorned with a stately black rim detail.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stately
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stately
Adjective
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Wembanyama and the Spurs look far more imposing than Jokić and those Nuggets did two years ago.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
But five-piece Lelek, adorned with markings historically designed to fend off threats from the Ottoman Empire, still make for a formidable, imposing, and curiously bewitching presence.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
What strikes him about the style is that nothing feels out of place—every column, window, and detail is part of a graceful whole.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 May 2026
-
There is nothing more graceful than a heron in motion.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
The hotel houses a magnificent collection of 20th-century prints and drawings which hang throughout the bedrooms and public spaces; spot the Picasso and the Cocteaus in the Picteau Lounge Bar.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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The Italian Lounge, for example, has a magnificent blue-and-gold ceiling imported from the Grimation Palace in Florence in the late 19th century.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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The mountain makes a majestic backdrop for Gergeti Trinity Church, a 14th-century gem perched 7,120 feet above sea level.—
Lori Rackl,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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Lamb’s majestic, three-run blast helped USC rout Lamar 19-6 to keep the Trojans alive at the College Station Regional.—
Jose de Jesus Ortiz,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Barragán originally set out to find the man who scammed his mother by posing as a handsome American soldier, but now interrogates four of these young men, illuminating their psychological tactics, economic hardships and moral dilemmas.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
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With handsome, compound foliage that remains evergreen in frost-free areas, this heat and drought tolerant shrub makes a lovely accent or focal point.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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But the nation honored by the glorious moment still retains the power of recovery and renewal praised by Douglass.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
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Some of you aren’t ready for this conversation, but McCartney’s past two decades have been the most glorious creative roll of his post-Beatles life.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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In rich countries with more formal labor markets, such as the US and the UK, this has catalyzed the decades-long erosion of social protections under neoliberalism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
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This is the first year that the Nationals have engaged in formal meetings like these.—
Spencer Nusbaum,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Michter’s has spent years proving that rye can also be elegant, balanced, and surprisingly approachable, and its latest 10 Year Rye release continues that mission.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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In Palm Beach, Florida, Jelly Roll performs at his Little ASS Shed Tour, while in Los Angeles, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner look elegant as ever in black and white outfits.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stately. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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