planetary
adjective
plan·e·tary
ˈpla-nə-ˌter-ē 
1
2
a
: of, relating to, or belonging to the earth : terrestrial
3
: having or consisting of an epicyclic train of gear wheels
Synonyms
- astronomical
- astronomic
- Brobdingnagian
- bumper
- colossal
- cosmic
- cosmical
- cyclopean
- elephantine
- enormous
- galactic
- gargantuan
- giant
- gigantesque
- gigantic
- grand
- herculean
- heroic
- heroical
- Himalayan
- huge
- humongous
- humungous
- immense
- jumbo
- king-size
- king-sized
- leviathan
- mammoth
- massive
- mega
- mighty
- monster
- monstrous
- monumental
- mountainous
- oceanic
- pharaonic
- prodigious
- super
- super-duper
- supersize
- supersized
- titanic
- tremendous
- vast
- vasty
- walloping
- whacking
- whopping
Examples of planetary in a Sentence
a positively planetary new shopping development
Recent Examples on the Web
While it is not clinically recognized as a pathology or included in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, experts say the feeling of gloom and doom prompted by all of the inescapable images of planetary gloom and doom is becoming more widespread.
—
Jason Horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
The hazy frustration of brain fog has felt ever-present thanks to this planetary backspin, but Mercury retrograde ending will lift the clouds and clear our thoughts.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Ever since the initial presentation of the planetary boundaries, researchers have debated not just these metrics’ details but also the merits of such a system as a whole.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2023
In short: Houses make up just one part of the birth chart puzzle, and knowing how to interpret them can tell you where different planetary energies will show up in your life.
—Madison Feller, ELLE, 6 Sep. 2023
Many of them have one foot in astrology, claiming that earthquakes can be predicted based on planetary and lunar alignments.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
Saturn holds the overnight planetary spotlight for most of the month.
—Geoff Chester, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2023
Last year, in a once-in-a-decade report, planetary scientists endorsed investing in a variety of asteroid defense techniques, not just kinetic impactors like DART.
—Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 30 Aug. 2023
Not only is our reliance on fossil fuels impacting various aspects of our existence, but Rees says that additional overshoot stresses—from consuming biomass to upheaval in planetary nutrient cycles—have considerable negative impacts as well.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023
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Jason Horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
The hazy frustration of brain fog has felt ever-present thanks to this planetary backspin, but Mercury retrograde ending will lift the clouds and clear our thoughts.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Ever since the initial presentation of the planetary boundaries, researchers have debated not just these metrics’ details but also the merits of such a system as a whole.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2023
In short: Houses make up just one part of the birth chart puzzle, and knowing how to interpret them can tell you where different planetary energies will show up in your life.
—Madison Feller, ELLE, 6 Sep. 2023
Many of them have one foot in astrology, claiming that earthquakes can be predicted based on planetary and lunar alignments.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
Saturn holds the overnight planetary spotlight for most of the month.
—Geoff Chester, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2023
Last year, in a once-in-a-decade report, planetary scientists endorsed investing in a variety of asteroid defense techniques, not just kinetic impactors like DART.
—Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 30 Aug. 2023
Not only is our reliance on fossil fuels impacting various aspects of our existence, but Rees says that additional overshoot stresses—from consuming biomass to upheaval in planetary nutrient cycles—have considerable negative impacts as well.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'planetary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing planetary
Dictionary Entries Near planetary
Cite this Entry
“Planetary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/planetary. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
planetary
adjective
plan·e·tary
ˈplan-ə-ˌter-ē
More from Merriam-Webster on planetary
Nglish: Translation of planetary for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of planetary for Arabic Speakers
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