stately
adjective
state·ly ˈstāt-lē 
statelier; stateliest
1
a
: marked by lofty or imposing dignity
b
: haughty, unapproachable
2
: impressive in size or proportions
stateliness noun
stately adverb
Synonyms
- august
- dignified
- distingué
- distinguished
- imposing
- portly
- solemn
- staid
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 The couple live in the surrounding neighborhood, Fondren, a tony area of sprawling lawns and stately homes that’s also suffered this week, their water unreliable. 
Molly Hennessy-fiske, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2022 Squint at the front of the 1917 Colonial Revival-style house at 2331 S.W. Cactus Dr., however, and potential buyers may be able to visualize the once-stately residence architect Morris Whitehouse designed for retail entrepreneur Julius Lippitt. oregonlive, 31 July 2022 Tall and stately, Chun Wai Chan stood near the center of the studio. New York Times, 28 July 2022 Fake the look of a storied space—or accent an already stately home—with a painting technique that lends a sense of history and texture to your walls. Alyssa Longobucco, House Beautiful, 12 Aug. 2022 What was once the stately home of Civil War Union General Philip Sheridan’s widow and their three daughters for nearly five decades and later transformed into a Greek Embassy is awaiting yet another rebirth. Kellie Speed, Forbes, 15 July 2022 The Richmond property was a three-story brick building with stately columns; at about $650 a month, the rental seemed like a good find. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 As she became enveloped by stately columns of light at Little Caesars Arena, the 20-year-old pop star had just acknowledged the elephant in the room. Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2022 Festive warm lights and garland wrap the stately columns, while Santas adorn the porch and balcony. Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 17 Dec. 2021 See More
Molly Hennessy-fiske, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2022 Squint at the front of the 1917 Colonial Revival-style house at 2331 S.W. Cactus Dr., however, and potential buyers may be able to visualize the once-stately residence architect Morris Whitehouse designed for retail entrepreneur Julius Lippitt. oregonlive, 31 July 2022 Tall and stately, Chun Wai Chan stood near the center of the studio. New York Times, 28 July 2022 Fake the look of a storied space—or accent an already stately home—with a painting technique that lends a sense of history and texture to your walls. Alyssa Longobucco, House Beautiful, 12 Aug. 2022 What was once the stately home of Civil War Union General Philip Sheridan’s widow and their three daughters for nearly five decades and later transformed into a Greek Embassy is awaiting yet another rebirth. Kellie Speed, Forbes, 15 July 2022 The Richmond property was a three-story brick building with stately columns; at about $650 a month, the rental seemed like a good find. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 As she became enveloped by stately columns of light at Little Caesars Arena, the 20-year-old pop star had just acknowledged the elephant in the room. Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2022 Festive warm lights and garland wrap the stately columns, while Santas adorn the porch and balcony. Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 17 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing stately
Kids Definition
stately
adjective
state·ly ˈstāt-lē
statelier; stateliest
: impressive in size or dignity
stately oaks
stately homes
stately
adjective
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- imposing
- portly
- solemn
- dignified
- distinguished
- aristocratic
- decorous
- elegant
- staid
- handsome
- august
- distingué
- somber
- majestic
- seemly
- lordly
- proper
- magisterial
- sombre
- noble
- grim
- grave
- po-faced
- sober
- elevated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- frivolous
- silly
- goofy
- undignified
- giddy
- uncouth
- unseemly
- crude
- flighty
- coarse
- improper
- vulgar
- indecent
- crass
2
as in graceful
having or showing elegance a stately dowager in an evening gown Synonyms & Similar Words
- graceful
- elegant
- handsome
- majestic
- courtly
- regal
- magnificent
- gallant
- royal
- fine
- glorious
- classy
- luxurious
- grand
- aristocratic
- tasteful
- ornate
- proud
- stylish
- noble
- rich
- simple
- refined
- lavish
- superb
- baronial
- imposing
- quiet
- sophisticated
- fashionable
- monumental
- exquisite
- sleek
- heroic
- genteel
- polished
- heroical
- patrician
- understated
- splendid
- classic
- august
- restrained
- chic
- swank
- conservative
- artful
- in
- modish
- ostentatious
- posh
- swagger
- grandiose
- pretentious
- swanky
- smart
- snappy
- recherché
- sharp
- a la mode
- à la mode
- affected
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- graceless
- dowdy
- unfashionable
- gaudy
- raffish
- garish
- inelegant
- flamboyant
- loud
- flashy
- unhandsome
- grotesque
- unstylish
- tasteless
- crude
- tawdry
- coarse
- glitzy
- tacky
- splashy
- uncouth
- styleless
- cheesy
- vulgar
- trashy
- unpolished
- rude
- uncultured
- ticky-tacky
- ticky-tack
- unrefined
- uncultivated
- rough-hewn
- rough-edged
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- magnificent
- glorious
- majestic
- imposing
- regal
- epic
- grand
- royal
- imperial
- monumental
- massive
- gallant
- proud
- impressive
- baronial
- august
- colossal
- grandiose
- heroic
- heroical
- noble
- operatic
- luxurious
- splendid
- wonderful
- lavish
- kingly
- princely
- formidable
- remarkable
- queenly
- tremendous
- Homeric
- gorgeous
- sublime
- lordly
- cosmic
- palatial
- marvelous
- extravagant
- magnific
- monstrous
- superb
- marvellous
- extraordinary
- wondrous
- stupendous
- opulent
- awesome
- resplendent
- prodigious
- terrific
- striking
- sumptuous
- cosmical
- prepossessing
- redoubtable
- palatine
- apocalyptic
- celestial
- heavenly
- pompous
- inflated
- divine
- overblown
- awful
- sensational
- apocalyptical
- splendiferous
- killer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unimposing
- humble
- modest
- unprepossessing
- lowly
- unimpressive
- unheroic
- ordinary
- average
- common
- shabby
- sordid
- abject
- meretricious
- mediocre
- mean
- trifling
- petty
- puny
- trivial
- paltry
- insignificant
- run-of-the-mill
- second-rate
- measly
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- majestic
- formal
- eloquent
- towering
- graceful
- rhetoric
- cultured
- rhetorical
- lofty
- aristocratic
- literary
- elevated
- courtly
- grammatical
- proper
- florid
- flowery
- bombastic
- high-flown
- grandiose
- declamatory
- grandiloquent
- patrician
- fine
- refined
- classy
- educated
- pretentious
- pompous
- oratorical
- tasteful
- genteel
- stilted
- correct
- affected
- highfalutin
- hifalutin
- academic
- learned
- bookish
- academical
- Attic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- low
- undignified
- informal
- colloquial
- casual
- conversational
- uncouth
- vernacular
- slangy
- common
- unliterary
- vulgar
- ineloquent
- nonformal
- crude
- coarse
- rough
- crass
- gross
- unpolished
- rude
- indecent
- uncultured
- unrefined
- uncultivated
- lowbrow
- tasteless
- substandard
- rough-hewn
- unbookish
- ungrammatical
- incorrect
- uneducated
- unlearned
- ill-bred
- lowbred
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of stately are grandiose, grand, imposing, magnificent, and majestic. While all these words mean "large and impressive," stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.
the stately procession
Although the words grand and stately have much in common, grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.
a grand staircase
The synonyms grandiose and stately are sometimes interchangeable, but grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience, but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration.
grandiose hydroelectric projects
grandiose schemes
The words imposing and stately are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.
an imposing edifice
While in some cases nearly identical to stately, magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste.
magnificent paintings
Majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.
a majestic waterfall