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kingly

kingly

4 6.7
Having the style, power, or position of a king
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɪŋli/
translation icon : real
  • That's a kingly gesture.
  • kingly power

There's no, you know, kingly divine right in, in that respect.

Examples

  • The kingly throne was adorned with jewels and gold, reflecting his royal status.

  • Messiah ben David (son of David) would be a kingly figure who would rule over his people.

    Blog text (20)
  • - Oh, that was a kingly gift.

  • What he said was that it's too much of this kingly life.

  • "Are you thinking kingly thoughts?" I said after a while.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • We need to be thinking in terms of a kingly rule here on earth, not a democracy.

    Blog text (24)
  • "The Son of God goes forth to war, a kingly crown to gain."

  • We also know that we are joined to him in all his kingly glory.

    Blog text (17)
  • There are kingly virtues other than bravery.

  • The Trojan War had called Odysseus, a distinguished and kingly warrior, off to battle.

    Academic text (2005)

Synonyms

royal
vskingly
497 3.1

Relating to a king or queen and their family

focuses more on personal regal manner rather than institutional belonging
regal
vskingly
30 5.3

Having a grand and formal appearance like a king or queen

is similar but stresses literal rank and royal station more
noble
vskingly
24 3.6

Large and impressive in appearance or manner

specifies that this grandeur comes from sovereign status rather than nobility
stately
vskingly
23 5.7

Having an impressive, calm look that makes people feel respect

leans more toward personal sovereignty and rank than mere grandeur
aristocratic
vskingly
19 7.2

Like people from rich, important families who have high social rank

focuses on sovereign traits rather than general high social rank
courtly
vskingly
  • Literature
6 7.2

Polite and elegant like people at a royal court

stresses sovereign rank and ruling authority rather than refined court etiquette
fit for a king
vskingly
4 5.6

Very fancy and of high quality, like what a king would use

emphasizes actual rank and manner rather than only high quality
princely
vskingly
2 6.0

Show great dignity and generosity like royalty

applies similar grandeur but implies higher sovereign rank
baronial
vskingly
1 8.5

Large and impressive, like a lord's old house or small castle

is more about actual sovereign presence and royal authority
lordly
vskingly
1 8.1

Grand and dignified in a way a rich, powerful person acts

centres on sovereign dignity rather than just noble arrogance
knightly
vskingly
  • Archaic
1 8.0

About knights and the Middle Ages of honor and bravery

concerns sovereign dignity and ruling manner rather than martial ideals
queenlike
vskingly
1 7.3

Having the look or way of a queen

refers to similar grandeur but with masculine or neutral association
queenly
vskingly
1 5.6

Having the calm, proud manner and look of a queen

denotes the same majestic idea but with masculine or neutral tone
kinglike
vskingly
7.3

Looking and behaving like a king

is the same meaning but uses a different word form
estately
vskingly
  • Archaic
7.8

A person or building with a grand, dignified look that impresses people

is similar but more tied to actual monarchic status and role
quasi-royal
vskingly
8.9

Having power like a king or queen but without the title

implies genuine sovereign rank and formal royal status rather than similarity

Antonyms

797 1.0

Happening often or seen in many places

222 2.8

Not proud and not thinking you are better than others

How Regal

majestic
50 4.3
imperial
137 6.2
kingly
4 6.7
regal
30 5.3
dignified
71 4.6

Surface Forms

kingly positive
kinglier comparative
kingliest superlative

Morphology

kingly = king (transparent) = king + ly

Meaning is directly formed from 'king' plus the adjectival suffix '-ly', signifying 'having the qualities or manner of a king', which is obvious to learners.

Etymology

Kingly comes from the simple word king plus the ending -ly, which gives the idea 'like' or 'related to'. So, kingly means 'like a king', showing a royal style, rank, or way of acting.