lofty
adjective
ˈlȯf-tē 
loftier; loftiest
1
a
: elevated in character and spirit : noble
lofty ideals
b
: elevated in status : superior
the less lofty customers of the bar
2
: having a haughty overbearing manner : supercilious
She showed a lofty disregard for their objections.
3
a
: rising to a great height : impressively high
lofty mountains
b
: remote, esoteric
basic precepts are not lofty abstractions far removed from matters of daily living
D. D. Eisenhower
D. D. Eisenhower4
: having full-bodied, firm, and resilient textile fibers
lofty flannel
loftily
ˈlȯf-tə-lē
adverb loftiness
ˈlȯf-tē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- altitudinous
- high
- tall
- towering
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He set lofty goals for himself as a teacher. She showed a lofty disregard for their objections.
Recent Examples on the Web Riley setting a goal of 100 tackles is lofty but not unrealistic. Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2022 Florial, 24, the Yankees’ No. 15 prospect, has yet to live up to the lofty expectations previously set for him. New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Bolstered by transfers Sarah Franklin (Michigan State) and Christina Crawford (Kansas State), the Badgers have a chance to meet the lofty expectations placed upon them. Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2022 For a team that’s never won the Super Bowl and last won an NFL Championship in 1947, those are some lofty expectations. Bob Mcmanaman, The Arizona Republic, 1 Aug. 2022 Garrett’s confidence in the defense is the major reason his lofty expectations this season won’t change regardless of how long Deshaun Watson is suspended. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 28 July 2022 Edwards, the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League's reigning Player of the Year, heads into his senior season at Imhotep Institute with lofty expectations. The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2022 Stratospheric tech company stock prices reflected lofty expectations that those firms would make oodles of money way into the future. Mark Zandi For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 20 July 2022 The strong performance was at the lower end of lofty expectations domestically, with box office forecasters predicting a $140-million to $160-million opening heading into the weekend. Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2022 See More
Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2022 Florial, 24, the Yankees’ No. 15 prospect, has yet to live up to the lofty expectations previously set for him. New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Bolstered by transfers Sarah Franklin (Michigan State) and Christina Crawford (Kansas State), the Badgers have a chance to meet the lofty expectations placed upon them. Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2022 For a team that’s never won the Super Bowl and last won an NFL Championship in 1947, those are some lofty expectations. Bob Mcmanaman, The Arizona Republic, 1 Aug. 2022 Garrett’s confidence in the defense is the major reason his lofty expectations this season won’t change regardless of how long Deshaun Watson is suspended. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 28 July 2022 Edwards, the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League's reigning Player of the Year, heads into his senior season at Imhotep Institute with lofty expectations. The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2022 Stratospheric tech company stock prices reflected lofty expectations that those firms would make oodles of money way into the future. Mark Zandi For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 20 July 2022 The strong performance was at the lower end of lofty expectations domestically, with box office forecasters predicting a $140-million to $160-million opening heading into the weekend. Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
lofty
adjective
ˈlȯf-tē
loftier; loftiest
1
: rising to a great height
lofty trees
2
: of high rank or admirable quality
lofty lineage
He set lofty goals.
3
: showing a proud and superior attitude
Yet I knew him otherwise: a lofty lord without kindness … Avi, Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Avi, Crispin: The Cross of Leadlofty
adjective
1
as in high
extending to a great distance upward the ever-increasing lofty heights of the world's skyscrapers Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- high
- tall
- towering
- altitudinous
- eminent
- prominent
- elevated
- dominant
- dominating
- statuesque
- raised
- uplifted
- lifted
- high-rise
- upswept
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- low
- short
- squat
- flat
- stumpy
- low-lying
- stubby
2
as in arrogant
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogant
- superior
- cavalier
- haughty
- bumptious
- supercilious
- important
- assumptive
- pretentious
- hifalutin
- pompous
- uppish
- dominant
- highfalutin
- toplofty
- presumptuous
- uppity
- imperious
- domineering
- smug
- sniffy
- high-and-mighty
- chesty
- masterful
- dominating
- huffy
- presuming
- lordly
- pontifical
- huffish
- peremptory
- authoritarian
- overweening
- high-handed
- toploftical
- proud
- boastful
- vainglorious
- impudent
- magisterial
- self-assertive
- bombastic
- patronizing
- condescending
- pontificating
- high-hat
- saucy
- snobbish
- snobby
- snooty
- hubristic
- disdainful
- vain
- egocentric
- blusterous
- self-asserting
- bragging
- conceited
- narcissistic
- egotistic
- bossy
- cocky
- swaggering
- egotistical
- braggart
- blustery
- stiff-necked
- braggy
- egoistic
- impertinent
- egoistical
- immodest
- self-complacent
- complacent
- prideful
- uninhibited
- self-flattering
- self-satisfied
- self-conceited
- brash
- self-centered
- stuck-up
- extroverted
- unreserved
- self-applauding
- self-affected
- self-promoting
- self-pleased
- orgulous
- self-loving
- forward
- extraverted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- lowly
- unpretentious
- timid
- subdued
- shy
- diffident
- bashful
- sheepish
- unassuming
- demure
- passive
- shrinking
- mousy
- meek
- introverted
- deferential
- unarrogant
- unobtrusive
- quiet
- yielding
- compliant
- unassertive
- unaggressive
- acquiescent
- submissive
- overmodest
- mousey
- self-critical
- reserved
- cringing
- self-doubting
- cowering
- retiring
3
as in proud
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- proud
- arrogant
- haughty
- disdainful
- highfalutin
- superior
- cavalier
- hifalutin
- smug
- selfish
- prideful
- lordly
- vainglorious
- domineering
- important
- supercilious
- pretentious
- egotistic
- dominating
- vain
- conceited
- snobbish
- pompous
- confident
- egoistic
- egotistical
- bombastic
- high-sounding
- boastful
- uppity
- self-important
- swaggering
- condescending
- complacent
- presumptuous
- impudent
- sniffy
- audacious
- self-contented
- overbearing
- self-satisfied
- cocky
- patronizing
- self-conceited
- egocentric
- saucy
- peremptory
- brassy
- imperious
- cheeky
- bold
- overweening
- overconfident
- stuck-up
- brash
- impertinent
- self-assertive
- masterful
- magisterial
- bloated
- self-glorifying
- cocksure
- presuming
- forward
- bossy
- presuming
- high-handed
- self-assured
- sure
- self-centered
- self-confident
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- lowly
- unassuming
- unpretentious
- unpretending
- homely
- meek
- timid
- demure
- shy
- bashful
- diffident
- retiring
- deferential
- yielding
- compliant
- quiet
- unassertive
- ingratiating
- passive
- apologetic
- acquiescent
- submissive
- subdued
- resigned
- shrinking
- unobtrusive
- reserved
- self-doubting
- cringing
- cowering
4
as in noble
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- noble
- high
- great
- sublime
- honorable
- gallant
- magnanimous
- high-minded
- big
- elevated
- chivalrous
- exalted
- natural
- lordly
- worthy
- heroic
- heroical
- regal
- venerable
- magnificent
- valiant
- majestic
- greathearted
- ennobled
- inspiring
- princely
- glorified
- uplifting
- knightly
- august
- numinous
- moving
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- low
- ignoble
- base
- sordid
- debased
- vile
- wretched
- squalid
- degenerate
- degraded
- contemptible
- ugly
- abominable
- vicious
- narrow
- little
- hateful
- offensive
- detestable
- despicable
- repulsive
- lousy
- dastardly
- dirty
- ignominious
- sorry
- mean
- vulgar
- discreditable
- coarse
- crude
- humiliating
- degrading
- small-minded
5
as in majestic
very dignified in form, tone, or style the lofty nature of the coronation ceremony Synonyms & Similar Words
- majestic
- eloquent
- formal
- rhetoric
- stately
- rhetorical
- elevated
- towering
- literary
- graceful
- cultured
- high-flown
- aristocratic
- grammatical
- grandiose
- grandiloquent
- proper
- highfalutin
- bombastic
- pompous
- pretentious
- fine
- flowery
- refined
- educated
- oratorical
- declamatory
- florid
- hifalutin
- correct
- stilted
- classy
- tasteful
- academic
- affected
- patrician
- courtly
- genteel
- bookish
- learned
- academical
- Attic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- low
- undignified
- informal
- casual
- conversational
- common
- colloquial
- unliterary
- ineloquent
- vulgar
- slangy
- coarse
- crude
- vernacular
- gross
- rough
- uncouth
- indecent
- nonformal
- unrefined
- lowbrow
- crass
- rude
- unpolished
- uncultured
- uncultivated
- tasteless
- uneducated
- ungrammatical
- substandard
- unbookish
- rough-hewn
- incorrect
- ill-bred
- unlearned
- lowbred
Synonym Chooser
The words high and tall are common synonyms of lofty. While all three words mean "above the average in height," lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.
lofty mountain peaks
The meanings of high and lofty largely overlap; however, high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.
a high hill
a high ceiling
Although the words tall and lofty have much in common, tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.
a tall thin man