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ladylike

[ ley-dee-lahyk ]

/ ˈleɪ diˌlaɪk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ladylike ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

like a lady.

befitting a lady: in a ladylike manner.

Origin of ladylike

First recorded in 1580–90; lady + -like

SYNONYMS FOR ladylike

1, 2 well-bred, well-mannered, courteous.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ladylike ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM ladylike

la·dy·like·ness, noun un·la·dy·like, adjective

Words nearby ladylike

ladybug, ladyfinger, ladyfish, ladyfy, ladykin, ladylike, ladylove, ladyship, ladysmith, lae, laelia

Example sentences from the Web for ladylike

Meanwhile Kerrigan was untouchable—her refusal to address the controversy further served to highlight her ladylike demeanor.

ESPN’s ‘The Price of Gold’ Revisits the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Scandal |Amy Zimmerman |January 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Their style was unassuming: slender, structured, solid, and ladylike.

The Language of Margaret Thatcher’s Handbags |Robin Givhan |April 8, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Fetching, gracious, ladylike, she has devoted her adult life to taking care of Mitt and the boys.

When Good Wives Attack: Ann Romney’s Tricky Defense of Mitt |Michelle Cottle |September 22, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
She has smiling blue eyes behind square gray glasses and a ladylike grin that punctuates most of her encounters.

Harper Lee’s Sister, Alice, Is 100, Still Practices Law, and Remembers Everything |Mary McDonagh Murphy |April 1, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

Most of the replies came from Ethel, and her timid, retiring, yet ladylike manner found favor with her interrogator.

Mildred's New Daughter |Martha Finley
Mark Ambient went on, while my thoughts reverted to his ladylike wife, as interpreted by his remarkable sister.

The Author Of Beltraffio |Henry James
Miss Penge was ladylike, quiet, and good, and was like a cool salad in a man's mouth after spiced meat.

The American Senator |Anthony Trollope
The women, her neighbours, were rather foreign to her, and Morel's mother and sisters were apt to sneer at her ladylike ways.

Sons and Lovers |David Herbert Lawrence
Emma used to say it was not ladylike—but he—he did not say so.

Jaffery |William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for ladylike

ladylike

/ (ˈleɪdɪˌlaɪk) /

adjective

like or befitting a lady in manners and bearing; refined and fastidious

derogatory (of a man) effeminate

Derived forms of ladylike

ladylikeness, noun