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

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 tall According to Out Magazine, an LGBTQ+ news, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle magazine, Kornacki stands at 6 feet, 2 inches tall. Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024 Fun facts: Pygmy hippos are considerably smaller than common hippos, weighing around 400 to 600 pounds and standing just 3 to 5 feet tall, compared to the massive 3,000- to 4,000-pound common hippos. Shafaq Patel, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024 In addition to holding the record for skinniest skyscraper, the building is also the second tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, reaching a whopping 1,428 feet high, including a 300-foot decorative steel crown. Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024 The finished product stands 8 inches tall by 8.5 inches wide when the dark green leaves are fanned out and features five blooming flowers of various sizes. Clint Davis, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tall 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tall
Adjective
  • Another edition went for $5.7 million on a $6 million high estimate at Christie’s New York in 2009.
    Brian Boucher for ArtNews, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Howard crushed it, setting a high bar, but Doechii was ready to respond.
    Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Antiaircraft fire kept the bombers so high, however, that aim was difficult to manage, and the bombs fell indiscriminately, destroying more than 4,300 homes while damaging three-quarters of the city's factories.
    Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Lack of work-life balance can make stressful job environments even more difficult to manage.
    Erik Pham, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • In past years, Quiroz has made towering displays with seven distinct levels.
    Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
  • Here, two black feather wreaths (available at many craft stores), accented with long lengths of shimmery silver ribbon, dress up the towering front doors.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2022
Adjective
  • The company continues to focus on expanding its distribution business and broadening its product range, despite the challenging economic environment.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The digital detox journey can be challenging, but many people discover it to be rewarding in the end.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Bosa confirmed Wednesday that playing through a hip injury last game was the toughest pain he’s endured in 5 1/2 seasons.
    Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
  • The Buffs need to find a way to grind out tough yards on the ground, especially late.
    Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.
    Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023
  • That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series.
    Max Olsan, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • While Malloy's candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders' decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator's enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • William Campbell/Getty Images Senate Democrats are heading into Tuesday's elections facing the fight of their lives: defending a 51-49 majority with a map so formidable that Republicans have called it their best opportunity in a decade to gain ground.
    Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Yet a Brown University study found that students who took courses from professors with more rigorous grading standards learned more.
    Karin Klein, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • And the Bruins played a rigorous out-of-state schedule to prepare for another run.
    Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near tall

Cite this Entry

“Tall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tall. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on tall

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