stupendousadj.
/stjuːˈpɛndəs/, /stʃuːˈpɛndəs/, /stjᵿˈpɛndəs/, /stʃᵿˈpɛndəs/, U.S. /st(j)uˈpɛndəs/ 1. Astonishingly or exceedingly great in size, degree, or amount; tremendous, prodigious, enormous.This sense is probably a contextual development of sense 2a, although it is recorded earlier.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > vast, immense, or huge > and amazing
ferlya1400
wonderfulc1540
stupendiousa1549
portentous1553
stupenduous1610
stupendous1618
stupend1621
tremendous1813
awesome1838
devastating1889
dizzy1896
doozy1903
staggering1934
eyewatering1950
zonking great1958
stonking1980
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [adjective] > stunning
stupendiousa1549
obstupefactive1605
stounding1608
stupendous1618
stupend1621
stunning1667
stupefactive1689
stupefying1870
reeling1896
drop-dead1962
1618 T. Gainsford Glory Eng. i. vi. 43 Their greatest Cities are few in number, but such as stand by the sea shore are of good strength and eminence with stupendous Castels and workes of antiquity.
1664 J. Howell Προεδρια-Βασιλικη ii. 109 The Revenues of the Gallican Clergie amounted to above three hundred and twenty millions of Livres; a stupendous sum!
1725 E. Haywood Mem. Certain Island I. 272 A stupendous Rock, whose snowy Top seem'd crown'd with stars.
1790 W. Combe Devil upon Two Sticks III. xi. 41 To conceal..the appearance of her encreasing circumference.., she has ordered a stupendous tea-pot..to be placed on the table.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters x. 261 The man who thinks to outwit three women, who are aware of his purpose, must indeed be a stupendous ass.
1892 E. Dowson Let. in Notes & Queries (1962) Mar. 102/1 I have become the victim of the most stupendous cold which has ever occurred to me, & fear that I shall spend tomorrow in bed.
1916 M. A. Bigelow Sex-Education i. 12 Her firm conviction [is] that the world-wide movement for the sex-instruction of young people is a stupendous mistake.
1990 P. Quarrington Logan in Overtime 202 He sat at the back of the bus, scowling and playing with a stupendous pimple on his cheek.
2006 Financial Times 8 Apr. (Weekend section) w4/5 L'Ami Louis (where the portions are as stupendous as the bill).
2.
a. Causing wonder, astonishment, or surprise; remarkable, extraordinary; staggering, breathtaking.Earlier currency of this sense is probably implied by sense 1: see note there.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [adjective]
wonderlyc893
wonderfula1100
wondera1175
wondersa1300
marvellousc1330
marvela1400
marvelly?a1400
mirablec1429
admirablec1450
marvellablec1450
mirific1490
wondrous1509
extonious1548
portentious1549
miraculous1569
geason1572
mirificalc1572
astounding1590
amazing1593
wonderedc1595
admiring1598
prodigious1600
astonishable1603
fabulous1609
wondered-at?1611
necromantic1627
stupendous1640
nigromantic1645
mirandous1652
surprising1665
mirabundous1694
astonishinga1704
wondersome1774
sublime1813
nasty1834
kill-me-quite1842
breathtaking1843
breath-catching1865
miracle-working1867
mouth opening1867
stupefying1870
gee whiz1889
scorching1890
doozy1903
sensational1909
eye-popping1918
wunnerful1924
crashing1931
staggering1934
eyewatering1950
mind-boggling1955
Ozymandian1961
knock-out1966
mind-blowing1966
motherfucking1973
boggling1975
gobsmacking1981
tubular1982
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or extraordinary > [adjective] > special, extraordinary, or unusual
sunderlepeOE
specialc1325
strangec1330
undeemousa1400
outragec1400
singularc1400
stravagant1565
unusual1582
extraordinarya1586
remarkable1593
exordinary1601
peculiar1608
stupendous1640
eccentricala1652
particular1665
out-of-the-way1675
uncommon1705
awfy1724
exceptionable1801
tremendous1831
exceptional1846
exceptive1849
exceptionary1850
spesh1874
heart-stopping1891
off-brand1929
wild1955
cracker1964
1640 Bp. J. Wilkins Disc. New World & Another Planet (new ed.) i. xiv. 236 The waters do hang there [i.e. in the clouds] after such a stupendous inconceivable manner.
1666 S. Pepys Diary 21 May (1972) VII. 129 It is stupendous to see how favourably..my Lord Ashly carries himself to Mr. Yeabsly.
1757 G. Bally Day of Judgement 9 Time's most stupendous Birth,..By the dark mysterious Voice Of holy Seers announc'd.
1822 New Monthly Mag. (U.S. ed.) 3 560 He seemed perplexed and toiling to think..whether there were not some unseen wires by which the actor was upheld in his stupendous flights between heaven and earth.
1905 Westminster (Philadelphia) 23 Dec. 14/2 An unmade God, who can make all things that are made out of what never was made is almost too stupendous to believe.
1908 Galaxy Aug. 9/2 Amazement and consternation followed the proclamation of this stupendous message [sc. of Darwin's work].
1918 Munsey's Mag. May 893/1 They scarcely pretend to care. Arrogance isn't the word. It's something more terrific—it's stupendous!
1921 M. H. Coxon Torquil's Success viii. 104 To see two of them in battle is to realize the hidden savage. They fight to the death—it's stupendous!
1930 Illustr. London News 20 Sept. 478/2 A storm was raging below, and when the lightning flashed the effect was stupendous, the great sea of clouds seemed to explode in a blinding glare of white fire.
1932 Wonder Stories Q. Winter 238/1 And that, friends, is the whole stupendous simple explanation.
1997 Sight & Sound Sept. 29/2 In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde... Director John S. Robertson stands back and lets Barrymore knock us flat with a stupendous display of external technique.
b. In weakened sense: extremely good or pleasing; marvellous, splendid.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
1848 Spirit of Times 1 Jan. 527/1 A great time! a good time!! a stupendous time, as everybody avers who was thar.
1895 Eclectic Mag. Oct. 548/1 The fellow knows women like the inside of his pocket, and he has the courage of genius. It's a stupendous book.
1939 Airman's Gaz. Dec. 7/2 All aircraft off duty being allowed to..view the stupendous, side-splitting entertainment.
1989 Irish Times 23 Sept. (Weekend section) 2/7 A stupendous wine with much body and layer upon layer of flavour that could go on improving for many years.
2013 E. Harlow Good to Her vii. 130 ‘Nate? The beef, is it good?’ ‘It's stupendous. It's out of this world.’
Derivatives
stuˈpendousness n. the quality or fact of being stupendous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [noun]
wonderc1220
marvelc1300
marvelness1434
marvellousness1538
wonderfulness1574
miraculousness1581
wonderment1596
prodigiousness1649
mirability1650
stupendiousness1652
amazingness1677
stupendousnessa1706
wondrousness1851
stupendiosity1912
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > vastness of quantity or amount > amazing
stupendiousness1652
stupendousnessa1706
a1706 J. Evelyn in tr. R. Fréart Parallel Antient Archit. (1707) xxviii. 72 This piece of Architecture were one of the most Magnificent of all Antiquity, as well for the..richness of its Ornaments, as for the stupendousness of the Work.
1743 J. Ellis Knowl. Divine Things iv. 219 Those very Works, which, from their Stupendousness, should have taught them the Greatness of the former.
1890 Voice (N.Y.) 17 July This generation so familiar with stupendousness of all kinds.
1914 Harper's Bazar Aug. 22/3 Mountains..were made for goats and cascades and lunatics..and the more jagged and unenticing they are, the greater is their specious air of stupendousness.
2012 Stonewall (Manitoba) Argus 15 Nov. 23/2 Anthony Cavillo punted the ball out of desperation, only for A. J. Gass to recover and rejoice in the stupendousness of a dream realized.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1618