1
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
the governor watched with stately aloofness as his wife charmed the party guests
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in graceful
having or showing elegance
a stately dowager in an evening gown
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3
as in magnificent
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception
stately plantation homes that are now open to the public as museums
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4
as in majestic
very dignified in form, tone, or style
a stately composition that has served as the musical accompaniment for countless graduations and other ceremonial occasions
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stately
Joe Pye weed is a tall and stately plant that attracts bees and butterflies and doesn’t mind soggy soil.
—
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 5 May 2026
The traditional main residence showcases intricate molding and dark wood flooring throughout, from the grand formal living and dining rooms to the more casual sitting rooms and breakfast nook, with practically all the spaces featuring stately fireplaces.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
Still, Charles is not Starmer, and has a more stately and less political role to play, Bergmann said.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Out back, on a stately patio above a sprawling garden overlooking the Potomac, Kalshi's Tarek Mansour snaps a selfie with John Kiriakou, the former CIA whistleblower who Gen Z has recently made viral on TikTok.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stately
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 5 May 2026
The traditional main residence showcases intricate molding and dark wood flooring throughout, from the grand formal living and dining rooms to the more casual sitting rooms and breakfast nook, with practically all the spaces featuring stately fireplaces.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
Still, Charles is not Starmer, and has a more stately and less political role to play, Bergmann said.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Out back, on a stately patio above a sprawling garden overlooking the Potomac, Kalshi's Tarek Mansour snaps a selfie with John Kiriakou, the former CIA whistleblower who Gen Z has recently made viral on TikTok.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stately
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stately
Adjective
-
Wembanyama and the Spurs look far more imposing than Jokić and those Nuggets did two years ago.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
But five-piece Lelek, adorned with markings historically designed to fend off threats from the Ottoman Empire, still make for a formidable, imposing, and curiously bewitching presence.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
The graceful curve of a corner kick.—
Miceal Chamberlain,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2026
-
They can be filled with a cool, soothing, graceful fern or bright blooms that celebrate the heat of summer.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
The magnificent luminosity of the orbs announced their arrival, their glow falling unfamiliar against windowpanes, which drew the people to the street.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
To make the case, everyone who cares about the magnificent red-rock canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Southern Utah needs to act now.—
Scott Braden,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Role of erosion Scientists now believe that the geological forces that shaped Europe’s most majestic mountain ranges are hiding a vast, untapped treasury of hydrogen.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
-
We were attracted to a rural, heavily wooded part of Wesley Chapel, where deer are common and roosters crow, and to the majestic live oak trees on our new property.—
Joseph Bonasia,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
It had, in fact, been rejected by all three major networks despite Lear’s handsome pedigree (his previous shows included the unequivocal successes All in the Family and Maude).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
To top it off, Rousey was able to secure a handsome payday for herself and Carano while also positioning herself to become a promoter and player in the MMA world as one of the faces of MVP MMA.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
For fans of the Afghan Whigs, the first half of 2026 has been a glorious time.—
Steve Baltin,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
You’re told what’s going to happen, but not exactly what or how, and that gives it a kind of glorious freshness.—
Laura Bradley,
Vanity Fair,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Referees rarely do this work, receive no formal training, and know the exercise is as much guesswork as judgment.—
Adam Davis,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Authorities announced in April that a homicide investigation dating back to 1973 was brought to a formal close, more than a half-century after a woman was found dead in a Northern Virginia state forest.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The bottoms don’t just feel more elegant, but are a quick way to make outfits appear upscale whether they’re styled with a T-shirt and sneakers or a button-up shirt and ballet flats.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
The palate is velvety and elegant, balancing weight with restraint.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stately. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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