The affection of the lowly is like a wall of sand.
Source: tatoeba (2570624)
Lowly
/ˈləʊli/
Synonyms for "lowly" (117 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (24)
Strong matches (35)
Related words (58)
obeisantobscureobsequiousordinaryout of favorplainplebeianpoorprosaicretiringreverentialrudesecond ranksecond stringsecondaryservileshabbyshabby-genteelsimplesmall
Show 31 more words
subsubalternsubjectsubordinatesubservientteachablethanklessthird rankthird stringthird-estateunappreciatedunassuminguncared foruncared-forunderprivilegedundistinguishedungenteelunimportantunlamentedunmissedunmournedunpopularunpretentiousunregrettedunsungunvaluedunwashedvulgarwithdrawingworkadayworkday
Adjective(5 words)
Noun(1 words)
servant class
Adverb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: humble, modest, base, base, baseborn.
- Sentence evidence is available for lowly, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "lowly".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "lowly"
Keep "lowly" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "lowly" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "lowly", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "lowly" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesadverb of mannerdescriptive adjective
More specific
4 entriesCollocations
9 entrieslow statuslowly birthlowly bornlowly originlowly paid workerslowly positionlowly ranklowly statuslowly worker
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
1 entriessimilar
4 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
Here I sit, deserted by all the world, I who am a king's daughter, and a false waiting-maid has forced me to take off my own clothes, and has taken my place with my bridegroom, while I have to fulfill the lowly office of goose-girl.
Source: tatoeba (5385893)
Him now Saturnia sought, and thus in lowly strain: / "O AEolus, for Jove, of human kind / and Gods the sovran Sire, hath given to thee / to lull the waves and lift them with the wind, / a hateful people, enemies to me, / their ships are steering o'er the Tuscan sea, / bearing their Troy and vanquished gods away / to Italy."
Source: tatoeba (6779350)
"Nor yet proud Ilion nor her towers had stood; / in lowly vales sequestered they abode."
Source: tatoeba (6979475)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "lowly"?
Closest matches include humble, modest, base, base, baseborn.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "lowly"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.