magnanimous

mag·nan·i·mous

adj \mag-ˈna-nə-məs\

Definition of MAGNANIMOUS

1

: showing or suggesting a lofty and courageous spirit <the irreproachable lives and magnanimous sufferings of their followers — Joseph Addison>

2

: showing or suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind <too sincere for dissimulation, too magnanimous for resentment — Ellen Glasgow>

— mag·nan·i·mous·ly adverb

— mag·nan·i·mous·ness noun

Examples of MAGNANIMOUS

1. She was too magnanimous to resent all the things others had said to her.
2. <a magnanimous donation to the town's animal shelter>
3. “No problem,” I dismissed his concerns with a magnanimous flick of the wrist. —Tom Perrotta, Joe College, 2000
4. … and many of them retain a respectful Eisenhower-or-Kennedy-era view of America as Japan's usually magnanimous elder brother. —James Fallows, Atlantic, August 1989
5. … with the off-duty cops downing them as fast as he could pour, Leery could afford to be magnanimous and play the jukebox for the boys and girls. —Joseph Wambaugh, The Delta Star, 1983
6. Levesque was magnanimous in victory, immediately reassuring English-speaking Quebecers that they were still welcome in the province, an integral part of its history. —Mordecai Richler, Atlantic, June 1983

Origin of MAGNANIMOUS

Latin magnanimus, from magnus great + animus spirit — more at much, animate

First Known Use: 1567

Related to MAGNANIMOUS

Synonyms: big, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, high-minded, lofty, lordly, noble, natural, sublime

Antonyms: base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low

Related Words: ennobled, exalted, glorified; heroic (also heroical), honorable, valiant, venerable, worthy; knightly, princely, regal; inspiring, moving, numinous, uplifting; august, magnificent, majestic

Near Antonyms: sordid, squalid, vile, wretched; abominable, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hateful, offensive, repulsive, ugly, vicious; dastardly, dirty, lousy, sorry; little, mean, narrow, small-minded; degrading, discreditable, humiliating, ignominious; coarse, crude, vulgar

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Rhymes with MAGNANIMOUS

unanimous