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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a lordly and dignified man He regarded his neighbors with lordly disdain.
Recent Examples on the Web 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 Player for player Atlanta shouldn’t be scaring the lordly Dodgers like this. Ray Glier, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 In 2015, a campaign spokesperson made an even more lordly valuation—a hundred million. Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2021 His absence seemed lordly and dismissive, which is precisely what Ossoff accused Perdue of being. Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2020 The earliest days of Christianity involved the repossession of the sacred from the stewardship of politics, with all its lordly pretensions, into the hands of community in the form of the Church. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 4 Sep. 2020 What began as a lordly duty to protect eventually extended beyond caring for the lame, beyond the untended child. Melissa Chadburn, The New York Review of Books, 27 Aug. 2020 See More
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 Player for player Atlanta shouldn’t be scaring the lordly Dodgers like this. Ray Glier, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 In 2015, a campaign spokesperson made an even more lordly valuation—a hundred million. Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2021 His absence seemed lordly and dismissive, which is precisely what Ossoff accused Perdue of being. Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2020 The earliest days of Christianity involved the repossession of the sacred from the stewardship of politics, with all its lordly pretensions, into the hands of community in the form of the Church. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 4 Sep. 2020 What began as a lordly duty to protect eventually extended beyond caring for the lame, beyond the untended child. Melissa Chadburn, The New York Review of Books, 27 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
lordly
adjective
1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude one dinner guest was a little lordly about her status as a vegetarian, even asking the other diners how they could bear to eat dead animals Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- arrogant
- superior
- cavalier
- haughty
- dominant
- supercilious
- domineering
- uppity
- bumptious
- smug
- overweening
- pompous
- sniffy
- dominating
- presuming
- masterful
- imperious
- chesty
- pretentious
- uppish
- assumptive
- authoritarian
- hifalutin
- huffy
- important
- high-and-mighty
- peremptory
- magisterial
- presumptuous
- lofty
- patronizing
- high-handed
- highfalutin
- proud
- impudent
- pontifical
- bossy
- condescending
- stiff-necked
- toplofty
- self-asserting
- huffish
- self-assertive
- snooty
- swaggering
- toploftical
- boastful
- high-hat
- pontificating
- snobbish
- bombastic
- cocky
- impertinent
- saucy
- disdainful
- conceited
- braggart
- snobby
- blustery
- vainglorious
- bragging
- vain
- narcissistic
- blusterous
- hubristic
- egotistic
- egocentric
- complacent
- self-satisfied
- self-complacent
- unreserved
- uninhibited
- brash
- stuck-up
- egotistical
- prideful
- egoistic
- immodest
- self-conceited
- extroverted
- braggy
- self-centered
- orgulous
- egoistical
- extraverted
- self-promoting
- self-flattering
- forward
- self-loving
- self-affected
- self-pleased
- self-applauding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humble
- lowly
- modest
- timid
- bashful
- unpretentious
- sheepish
- subdued
- shrinking
- demure
- meek
- diffident
- acquiescent
- shy
- mousy
- passive
- deferential
- introverted
- yielding
- submissive
- unassuming
- compliant
- unobtrusive
- mousey
- unaggressive
- quiet
- unassertive
- reserved
- cowering
- cringing
- unarrogant
- retiring
- self-doubting
- overmodest
- self-critical
2
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself his lordly attitude toward people who enjoy popular music Synonyms & Similar Words
- proud
- arrogant
- haughty
- cavalier
- superior
- smug
- disdainful
- domineering
- prideful
- selfish
- hifalutin
- lofty
- dominating
- highfalutin
- supercilious
- swaggering
- conceited
- uppity
- snobbish
- confident
- egotistic
- condescending
- vainglorious
- patronizing
- overweening
- impudent
- complacent
- overbearing
- sniffy
- self-satisfied
- self-contented
- pompous
- pretentious
- cocky
- vain
- bombastic
- important
- boastful
- magisterial
- egotistical
- self-important
- egoistic
- stuck-up
- self-conceited
- cocksure
- peremptory
- bossy
- brassy
- impertinent
- brash
- saucy
- overconfident
- bloated
- presuming
- high-sounding
- presumptuous
- masterful
- imperious
- self-assertive
- cheeky
- self-glorifying
- egocentric
- presuming
- audacious
- forward
- self-assured
- bold
- high-handed
- self-confident
- sure
- self-centered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humble
- lowly
- homely
- meek
- modest
- unpretending
- timid
- demure
- bashful
- unassuming
- acquiescent
- deferential
- yielding
- unpretentious
- shy
- ingratiating
- diffident
- retiring
- submissive
- apologetic
- compliant
- passive
- resigned
- shrinking
- unassertive
- reserved
- quiet
- subdued
- unobtrusive
- cowering
- self-doubting
- cringing
3
as in noble
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature born to great wealth, he has always displayed a lordly generosity toward the less fortunate Synonyms & Similar Words
- noble
- high
- great
- gallant
- sublime
- magnanimous
- honorable
- chivalrous
- lofty
- elevated
- big
- princely
- venerable
- regal
- exalted
- natural
- high-minded
- knightly
- worthy
- valiant
- heroic
- ennobled
- glorified
- heroical
- greathearted
- magnificent
- moving
- majestic
- numinous
- inspiring
- august
- uplifting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoble
- debased
- degenerate
- wretched
- vile
- low
- base
- degraded
- squalid
- contemptible
- detestable
- little
- sordid
- vicious
- dastardly
- repulsive
- abominable
- hateful
- offensive
- despicable
- ugly
- narrow
- dirty
- vulgar
- mean
- sorry
- coarse
- lousy
- ignominious
- humiliating
- crude
- degrading
- discreditable
- small-minded
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of lordly are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, insolent, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.
a lordly condescension
The synonyms arrogant and lordly are sometimes interchangeable, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.
a conceited and arrogant executive
The words disdainful and lordly can be used in similar contexts, but disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.
disdainful of their social inferiors
While in some cases nearly identical to lordly, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.
a haughty aristocrat
In some situations, the words insolent and lordly are roughly equivalent. However, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.
ignored by an insolent waiter
While the synonyms overbearing and lordly are close in meaning, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.
an overbearing supervisor
The meanings of proud and lordly largely overlap; however, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.
too proud to take charity
The words supercilious and lordly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.
an aloof and supercilious manner