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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective grandiose differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of grandiose are grand, imposing, magnificent, majestic, and stately. While all these words mean "large and impressive," grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience, but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration.

grandiose hydroelectric projects
grandiose schemes

When can grand be used instead of grandiose?

While the synonyms grand and grandiose are close in meaning, grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.

a grand staircase

When is imposing a more appropriate choice than grandiose?

In some situations, the words imposing and grandiose are roughly equivalent. However, imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.

an imposing edifice

When is it sensible to use magnificent instead of grandiose?

The words magnificent and grandiose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste.

magnificent paintings

How is majestic related to other words for grandiose?

Majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.

a majestic waterfall

When would stately be a good substitute for grandiose?

The synonyms stately and grandiose are sometimes interchangeable, but stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.

the stately procession

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grandiose In the grandiose world of splendor and affluence, possibilities are endless. Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2025 One of its stranger spinoffs was the grandiose, tactically clumsy Symbionese Liberation Army — an army of perhaps a dozen white men and women led by a black escaped convict. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024 Apple Fifth Avenue Address: 767 Fifth Avenue Opened: May 19, 2006 Apple Fifth Avenue has become something bigger than even the grandiose Apple Stores on this list. Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 24 Dec. 2024 From grandiose fireworks displays to start the year off with a bang to nighttime skiing on snowy slopes, here’s some New Years travel inspiration for holiday jetsetters. Brittany Anas, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grandiose 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandiose
Adjective
  • Several national parks, including Grand Teton, Glacier and, of course, Rocky Mountain, are all part of this magnificent mountain range, which stretches into Canada.
    Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
  • United, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, had a magnificent side, yet the iconic picture doesn’t tell the whole story.
    Andy Mitten, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald return as love interest Virginia Venit and arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, respectively, and the cast includes rookies like Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce and pro wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Those include genial second-year resident Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), arrogant intern Santos (Isa Briones), and doe-eyed med students Javadi (Shabana Azeez) and Whittaker (Gerran Howell).
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Guida’s epic brawl with Diego Sanchez on the Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Finale was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2019.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The project marks Maddock Films’ first venture into the historical epic genre and features Kaushal alongside Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • According to Butler and Desai, chick lit tends to celebrate an ostentatious culture of globe-trotting shopping sprees—mainly in Western centers of fashion and power, such as London and New York.
    H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The actor’s approach to method dressing was expansive: from a modest 1997 Christian Dior skirt-set patterned with delicate daisies, to ostentatious power-clashing pieces from Christopher John Rogers.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The glorious few who still worry about the decline of Palm Beach society speculated wildly that Trump was planning to legalize gambling and build a casino, or — the truly frightening possibility — subdivide his acreage and sell houses.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
  • But its glorious catalog lay in disarray, waiting for an astute buyer willing to mine its precious gems.
    Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Some implied Hill was pretentious for citing Sam Peckinpah, Martin Scorsese, and Taxi Driver as the film’s influences.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024
  • Like David, Danson appeared as a pretentious and smug version of himself on the beloved series.
    Esther Kang, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The most imposing constructions, hidden by nature, towered above the tree canopy.
    Anna Lagos, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
  • The Foundling certainly sounds like a more imposing leader in the long term than the country’s autocrat-of-the-day, right?
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 Mar. 2024
Adjective
  • Stan would’ve played Joe Alwyn’s role, Harry Lee Van Buren, the pompous son of Guy Pearce’s moneyed industrialist who exploits Adrien Brody’s Jewish-Hungarian architect.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2025
  • What began earlier in Iannucci’s career as simply skewering pompous politicians has matured into an examination of what happens when leaders with feet of mud let their egos make decisions that will change the lives of millions.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near grandiose

Cite this Entry

“Grandiose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiose. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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