grandiose
adjective
ˌgran-dē-ˈōs 
Did you know?
When it comes to bigness, there’s grand and then there’s grandiose. Both words can be used to describe something impressive in size, scope, or effect, but while grand may lend its noun a bit of dignity (i.e., “we had a grand time”), grandiose often implies a whiff of pretension. The difference between a grand plan for the city park and a grandiose one, for example, might be the difference between a tasteful fountain and a garden full of topiaries cut in the shapes of 19th century literary figures. So if you’re choosing between the two, a helpful mnemonic might be that the extra letters in grandiose suggest that one’s ideas, claims, promises, schemes, dreams—you get the idea—are a bit extra.
Synonyms
- august
- baronial
- epic
- gallant
- glorious
- grand
- heroic
- heroical
- Homeric
- imperial
- imposing
- magnific
- magnificent
- majestic
- massive
- monumental
- noble
- proud
- regal
- royal
- splendid
- stately
Example Sentences
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 This part of the film is the least sumptuous and grandiose — and the most affecting. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 23 Aug. 2022 When real estate mogul Howard Ruby sold his grandiose Bel Air mansion for $35 million last month, many wondered what would become of the antique furniture and artwork within. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2022 There was no game or practice scheduled, just a grandiose welcome party for a 21-year-old. Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 25 Apr. 2022 That said, the Volvo's back seat lacks the grandiose luxury typical of a stretch job. Greg Fink, Car and Driver, 23 Mar. 2022 Quesada had just discovered the world of psychedelic baladas that flourished beginning in the late Sixties, when Latin love songs began to sound even more grandiose than usual, bordering on the delirious. Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2022 Meant to be part of grandiose plans to make Kinshasa a glittering capital, the building was constructed in the 1970s as the International Trade Center but soon went into disrepair and sat abandoned and decaying for years. New York Times, 7 Dec. 2021 Both wars morphed into something more grandiose and utterly unachievable — the transformation of Afghanistan and Iraq into friendly, governable, democratic states. Michael Krepon, Forbes, 2 May 2022 See More Word History
French, from Italian grandioso, from grande great, from Latin grandis
1818, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
grandiose
adjective
Brian Jacques, Redwall Medical Definition
grandiose
adjective
ˌgran-dē-ˈ grandiose
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- epic
- magnificent
- glorious
- majestic
- imposing
- grand
- monumental
- massive
- regal
- impressive
- royal
- proud
- imperial
- colossal
- heroic
- lavish
- heroical
- wonderful
- luxurious
- operatic
- splendid
- noble
- august
- baronial
- gallant
- extravagant
- formidable
- stately
- tremendous
- remarkable
- sublime
- marvelous
- cosmic
- stupendous
- gorgeous
- extraordinary
- monstrous
- awesome
- magnific
- marvellous
- apocalyptic
- wondrous
- Homeric
- superb
- overblown
- inflated
- terrific
- prodigious
- pompous
- opulent
- sumptuous
- cosmical
- palatial
- kingly
- striking
- apocalyptical
- princely
- heavenly
- awful
- resplendent
- divine
- sensational
- prepossessing
- queenly
- celestial
- splendiferous
- lordly
- redoubtable
- killer
- palatine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humble
- modest
- unimpressive
- unheroic
- unimposing
- unprepossessing
- ordinary
- common
- mediocre
- sordid
- lowly
- meretricious
- average
- shabby
- petty
- trivial
- abject
- puny
- insignificant
- trifling
- paltry
- mean
- run-of-the-mill
- second-rate
- measly
Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogant
- ostentatious
- pompous
- pretentious
- proud
- highfalutin
- grandiloquent
- smug
- hifalutin
- affected
- high-minded
- vainglorious
- snippy
- lah-di-dah
- la-de-da
- la-di-da
- vain
- cavalier
- lah-dee-dah
- bumptious
- egotistic
- lah-de-dah
- sententious
- conceited
- aggressive
- confident
- egoistic
- presumptuous
- boastful
- prideful
- imperious
- showy
- egotistical
- assertive
- important
- haughty
- supercilious
- gaudy
- high-flown
- self-aggrandizing
- uppity
- snobbish
- glitzy
- high-sounding
- complacent
- self-glorifying
- flamboyant
- audacious
- self-important
- egoistical
- overweening
- rude
- snobby
- flashy
- disdainful
- braggart
- bragging
- brassy
- garish
- impudent
- airy
- self-centered
- cocky
- self-dramatizing
- superior
- hoity-toity
- high-toned
- self-obsessed
- self-complacent
- high-and-mighty
- self-satisfied
- cheeky
- high-handed
- insolent
- self-promoting
- splashy
- self-conceited
- bold
- self-assertive
- sure
- flaunting
- self-pleased
- lordly
- self-asserting
- self-assured
- high-hat
- stuck-up
- self-confident
- forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- unpretentious
- humble
- unassuming
- homely
- unassertive
- demure
- meek
- lowly
- passive
- quiet
- timid
- retiring
- diffident
- bashful
- shy
- reserved
- down-to-earth
- mousy
- overmodest
- mousey
Synonym Chooser
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.
While the synonyms grand and grandiose are close in meaning, grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.
In some situations, the words imposing and grandiose are roughly equivalent. However, imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.
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.
Majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.
The synonyms stately and grandiose are sometimes interchangeable, but stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.