loftily

[ lawf-tuh-lee, lof- ]

adverb

1. high in the air; in an imposing or towering manner:

   The speaker raised his fist loftily skywards as he spoke, drawing forth cheers from the crowd.

   The palace stands loftily at an imposing 2,000 ft above sea level, with an unhindered birds-eye view of a 13th century fort.

2. in a way that is elevated in rank, style, tone, or sentiment:

   The editorial begins loftily with a quote from the Roman author Horace.

3. in an arrogant or condescendingly superior way:

   I'd be more impressed if the official commissioned a few economic reports, rather than loftily dismissing the arguments of his challengers as “nonsense.”

Other Words From

• o·ver·loft·i·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of loftily¹

lofty ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Now Domokos was again asking for help in translating lofty mathematical concepts into literal stone.

From Quanta Magazine

I wondered a month ago how pandemic winners like Zoom or Shopify could use their lofty stock valuations to snap up or invest in other companies.

From Fortune

That has resulted in some lofty predictions for the potential of hydrogen.

From Fortune

The result was a lofty number of 73 proteins necessary for coronaviruses to replicate themselves.

From Singularity Hub 

This platform is the big name in online writing apps and, while it’s easy to scoff at its lofty claims to “elevate your writing,” it is a complete suite of tools.

From Popular-Science

They loftily asked those who watched The Real Housewives of New York City what was with the leg toss.

From The Daily Beast

While Washington wrote from inside the experience of the freed slaves, DuBois observes them loftily from above.

From The Daily Beast

It may just be the case that high-end Vancouver real estate is loftily suspended, awaiting such a nasty correction.

From The Daily Beast

He presents a manic mix of politics and religion, loftily billed as “the fusion of entertainment and enlightenment.”

From The Daily Beast

Loftily pierce the tall white minarets into the quivering heavens, while the solemn cypress throws its shade below.

From Project Gutenberg

But he is a knight of great renown, and till you have won your spurs, do not bear yourself loftily.

From Project Gutenberg

Doria loftily assured me that she had no interest in his business, in the mere vulgar number of copies sold.

From Project Gutenberg

"It makes a great deal of difference to us, for we wish to look exactly alike," said Louise loftily.

From Project Gutenberg

"I thought you would not care to speak to me, you didn't this morning," he answered somewhat loftily.

From Project Gutenberg