Illustration of nimbus
- nimbus 2
1
a
: a luminous vapor, cloud, or atmosphere about a god or goddess when on earth
b
: a cloud or atmosphere (as of romance) about a person or thing
2
: an indication (such as a circle) of radiant light or glory about the head of a drawn or sculptured divinity, saint, or sovereign
3
a
: a rain cloud
b
: thunderhead
also
: cumulus sense 2
Synonyms
Examples of nimbus in a Sentence
fans are inevitably disappointed when the nimbus of glamour about their favorite celebrity turns out to be an illusion
the nimbi for the sculpted figures around the exterior of the church are simple disks about the saints' heads
Recent Examples on the Web
All these flat shapes are limned by dark lines — the reverse of the delicate nimbus of light surrounding them in the original.
—
Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2023
The Ottoman artist chose to depict the prophet’s purity through the use of white fabrics, and his entire being as touched by the light of God via the large flaming nimbus that encircles his body.
—Christiane Gruber, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2023
O’Connell — Didi, to her intimates — is petite and nimble, with a queenly nimbus of red hair and a default expression, offstage anyway, of intent curiosity.
—New York Times, 17 June 2022
The silhouette of low domes and pencil-thin minarets piercing a nimbus of pale sky above was the continent of Asia.
—New York Times, 12 May 2022
That's maybe the blessing and the curse of Plaza: the fact that the couple's real-life union subsumes the play or at least hovers above and around it in nearly every moment, a golden nimbus of celebrity.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2022
Although the ambiguity dissipates in the measures that follow, a nimbus of uncertainty persists.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2022
They were time-stamped by their hair styles and clothing as citizens of the 1970s and ’80s, but they were made eternal by their direct gazes, formal poses and the nimbus of light with which Ms. Rivera surrounded them.
—New York Times, 4 June 2021
They were time-stamped by their hairstyles and clothing as citizens of the 1970s and ’80s, but they were made eternal by their direct gazes, formal poses and the nimbus of light with which Ms. Rivera surrounded them.
—BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2021
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Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2023
The Ottoman artist chose to depict the prophet’s purity through the use of white fabrics, and his entire being as touched by the light of God via the large flaming nimbus that encircles his body.
—Christiane Gruber, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2023
O’Connell — Didi, to her intimates — is petite and nimble, with a queenly nimbus of red hair and a default expression, offstage anyway, of intent curiosity.
—New York Times, 17 June 2022
The silhouette of low domes and pencil-thin minarets piercing a nimbus of pale sky above was the continent of Asia.
—New York Times, 12 May 2022
That's maybe the blessing and the curse of Plaza: the fact that the couple's real-life union subsumes the play or at least hovers above and around it in nearly every moment, a golden nimbus of celebrity.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2022
Although the ambiguity dissipates in the measures that follow, a nimbus of uncertainty persists.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2022
They were time-stamped by their hair styles and clothing as citizens of the 1970s and ’80s, but they were made eternal by their direct gazes, formal poses and the nimbus of light with which Ms. Rivera surrounded them.
—New York Times, 4 June 2021
They were time-stamped by their hairstyles and clothing as citizens of the 1970s and ’80s, but they were made eternal by their direct gazes, formal poses and the nimbus of light with which Ms. Rivera surrounded them.
—BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2021
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nimbus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near nimbus
Cite this Entry
“Nimbus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nimbus. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on nimbus
Britannica English: Translation of nimbus for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nimbus
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