lordly

adjective

lord·​ly ˈlȯrd-lē 

lordlier; lordliest

1

a

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a lord : dignified

b

: grand, noble

2

: exhibiting the pride and assurance associated with one of the highest birth or rank

lordliness noun

lordly adverb

Synonyms

• arrogant
• assumptive
• bumptious
• cavalier
• chesty
• haughty
• high-and-mighty
• high-handed
• high-hat
• highfalutin
• hifalutin
• huffish
• huffy
• imperious
• important
• lofty
• masterful
• overweening
• peremptory
• pompous
• presuming
• presumptuous
• pretentious
• self-asserting
• self-assertive
• sniffy
• stiff-necked
• supercilious
• superior
• toplofty
• toploftical
• uppish
• uppity

Choose the Right Synonym for lordly

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors.

proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of lordly in a Sentence

a lordly and dignified man

He regarded his neighbors with lordly disdain.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the cruelty and callousness of the lordly class infuses it all. —Ky Henderson, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2024

The surge ended in the World Series, the lordly Yankees winning in six games, but Mays was on his way and Durocher gave him full credit. —Mike Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024

Kings filled these cities with lordly stone monuments called stelae and pyramids of gray stone. —Will Hunt, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2014

What comes next is a showdown between her force and his financial clout, between labor and the lordly class. —Amy Nicholson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022

The portrait of Markram that ultimately emerges is of a lordly sovereign stalking the halls of an island mansion, an autumn of the scientific patriarch. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2022

From 1958 to 1961, sulking Giants and Dodgers fans had to put up with the lordly Yankees winning three pennants and two World Series. —New York Times, 23 Mar. 2022

The lordly African lion in his zoo grotto will cast a sentimental glance at his shaggy mate. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2022

The latest entry in the MCU picked up $90.7 million internationally, which pushes its global total to a lordly $161.7 million. —Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

lordly

adjective

lord·​ly ˈlȯ(ə)rd-lē 

lordlier; lordliest

1

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a lord : noble

2

: proud sense 1a, haughty

lordliness noun

lordly adverb