statelier; stateliest
1
a
: marked by lofty or imposing dignity
b
2
: impressive in size or proportions
stateliness
noun
stately
adverb
Examples of stately in a Sentence
the governor watched with stately aloofness as his wife charmed the party guests
a stately dowager in an evening gown
Recent Examples on the Web
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
With a broad, pyramidal form and dense blue-green foliage, this stately, needled evergreen makes an adaptable privacy screen for difficult areas in USDA Zones 4-9.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
The quiet interiors — defined by the revamp the stately building has undergone in the ‘50s — is characterized by an understated palette of neutral stone flooring and wooden furnishings, which were developed reusing existing materials.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stately
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.
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
With a broad, pyramidal form and dense blue-green foliage, this stately, needled evergreen makes an adaptable privacy screen for difficult areas in USDA Zones 4-9.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
The quiet interiors — defined by the revamp the stately building has undergone in the ‘50s — is characterized by an understated palette of neutral stone flooring and wooden furnishings, which were developed reusing existing materials.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stately
Cite this Entry
“Stately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stately. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stately
adjective
state·ly
ˈstāt-lē 
statelier; stateliest
: impressively grand in appearance, manner, or size
stateliness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
