Lofty — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Lofty (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. extending to a great distance upward

   "the ever-increasing lofty heights of the world's skyscrapers"

   similar: altitudinous, high, tall, towering
   related: dominant, dominating, eminent, prominent, elevated, lifted, raised, uplifted, upswept, high-rise, statuesque
   opposite: low, low-lying, short, squat
   near: flat, stubby, stumpy

2. 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"

   similar: arrogant, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, highfalutin, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty, uppish, uppity
   related: authoritarian, bossy, dominant, dominating, domineering, magisterial, pontifical, pontificating, condescending, disdainful, patronizing, impertinent, impudent, saucy, snobbish, snobby, snooty, blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering, vain, vainglorious, complacent, conceited, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, hubristic, narcissistic, orgulous, prideful, proud, self-affected, self-applauding, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, self-flattering, self-loving, self-promoting, brash, forward, uninhibited, unreserved, extroverted, immodest
   opposite: humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious
   near: bashful, cowering, cringing, demure, diffident, introverted, mousy, overmodest, self-critical, self-doubting, sheepish, shrinking, shy, subdued, timid, acquiescent, compliant, deferential, meek, passive, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive, unassuming, unobtrusive, yielding, quiet, reserved, retiring

3. having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself

   "his lofty attitude toward menial chores really rankles the other camp counselors"

   similar: disdainful, haughty, highfalutin, lordly, prideful, proud, superior
   related: complacent, conceited, egoistic, egotistic, important, self-assertive, self-conceited, self-contented, self-important, self-satisfied, smug, uppity, vain, vainglorious, arrogant, pretentious, sniffy, snobbish, stuck-up, supercilious, cavalier, overbearing, overweening, peremptory, swaggering, high-sounding, pompous, condescending, patronizing, cocky, overconfident, presumptuous, bloated, boastful, bombastic, self-glorifying, audacious, bold, brash, brassy, cheeky, cocksure, forward, impertinent, impudent, saucy, confident, presuming, self-assured, self-confident, sure, bossy, domineering, high-handed, imperious, egocentric, self-centered, selfish, dominating, magisterial, masterful
   opposite: humble, lowly, modest
   near: demure, homely, meek, unassuming, unpretending, unpretentious, bashful, retiring, shy, timid, diffident, self-doubting, acquiescent, compliant, deferential, ingratiating, resigned, submissive, unassertive, yielding, apologetic, cowering, cringing, shrinking, passive, quiet, reserved, subdued, unobtrusive

4. having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature

   "remained true to the cause's lofty ideals, regardless of the changing winds of popular opinion"

   similar: big, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, high-minded, lordly, magnanimous, natural, noble, sublime
   related: ennobled, exalted, glorified, heroic, honorable, valiant, venerable, worthy, knightly, princely, regal, inspiring, moving, numinous, uplifting, august, magnificent, majestic
   opposite: base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low
   near: sordid, squalid, vile, wretched, abominable, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hateful, offensive, repulsive, ugly, vicious, dastardly, dirty, lousy, sorry, little, mean, narrow, small-minded, degrading, discreditable, humiliating, ignominious, coarse, crude, vulgar

5. very dignified in form, tone, or style

   "the lofty nature of the coronation ceremony"

   similar: elevated, eloquent, formal, high-flown, majestic, stately, towering
   related: affected, bombastic, declamatory, florid, flowery, grandiloquent, grandiose, highfalutin, oratorical, pompous, pretentious, rhetorical, stilted, Attic, cultured, refined, classy, courtly, fine, graceful, tasteful, aristocratic, genteel, patrician, correct, educated, grammatical, proper, academic, bookish, learned, literary
   opposite: ineloquent, low, undignified
   near: casual, colloquial, conversational, informal, nonformal, slangy, unbookish, unliterary, vernacular, coarse, common, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, indecent, lowbred, lowbrow, rough, rough-hewn, rude, tasteless, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar, incorrect, substandard, uneducated, ungrammatical, unlearned