as in graceful
having or showing elegance
his courtly manners made him a favorite escort of widowed socialites
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Recent Examples of courtly
The courtly Time-magazine essayist who described the American Century with wit, outrage, and wry wisdom
By Roger Rosenblatt
Read On
The Seasoned Traveler
Enrique Olvera The Mexican chef behind Cosme and Pujol reveals his travel routine
Read On
Going Anywhere Soon?
—
airmail.news, 7 Dec. 2024
In the video, guests dressed for an Instagrammable, Regency-era ball, while an orchestra played music for courtly dances and Lopez sat on a throne, holding court as her own version of Queen Charlotte.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
From there, ravioli made its way into the courtly kitchens of the northern provinces.
—Dawn Davis Sharon Radisch Soneela Nankani Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 13 May 2024
At 21, George crossed paths with James I, who also ruled Scotland as King James VI, in August 1614 at Apethorpe, a courtly home in rural Northamptonshire.
—TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for courtly
airmail.news, 7 Dec. 2024
In the video, guests dressed for an Instagrammable, Regency-era ball, while an orchestra played music for courtly dances and Lopez sat on a throne, holding court as her own version of Queen Charlotte.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
From there, ravioli made its way into the courtly kitchens of the northern provinces.
—Dawn Davis Sharon Radisch Soneela Nankani Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 13 May 2024
At 21, George crossed paths with James I, who also ruled Scotland as King James VI, in August 1614 at Apethorpe, a courtly home in rural Northamptonshire.
—TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtly
Adjective
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This is graceful, quietly intelligent filmmaking—including a touch of unsentimental magic realism involving a wise and beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
23 May 2025
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Marked by a graceful melancholia and filled with daunting technical feats, especially the director’s signature, logistics-defying long takes, his films are beautifully realized meditations on nostalgia and loss in which the cinema tends to be a character itself.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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The handsome and charismatic Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an Anglican son of a duke, renounced his title and commanded the society’s militia.—
Joseph Patrick Kelly,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
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Ian had been handsome, popular, in love with a new girlfriend—the kind of golden boy upon whom fortune smiles.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Old Midleton Distillery, with its elegant stone facade, was originally a woolen mill in the late 18th century.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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In a sleek, lilac bottle, the elegant formula is also made with silk extract.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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In any case, for the other guests, the tripping goes fine.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
28 May 2025
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Together, the two properties form a seamless downtown ecosystem. Passport: Explore the finest destinations and experiences around the world in the Forbes Passport newsletter.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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The name is inspired by the Spanish royal family’s practice of gifting pairs of merino sheep to other monarchs to honor its relationships.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
29 May 2025
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An Instagram post on the Spanish royal family's account noted that Sofia's parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, attended the ceremony alongside the families of other graduates.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Luckily, her gallant Eddington co-stars Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal were there to protect her from the crazed abeille.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
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Marvel’s Thunderbolts* brings together a huge ensemble cast for a less gallant take on the MCU.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Courtly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtly. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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