splendor

noun

splen·​dor ˈsplen-dər How to pronounce splendor (audio)
1
a
: great brightness or luster : brilliancy
2
: something splendid
the splendors of the past
splendorous adjective
or less commonly splendrous

Examples of splendor in a Sentence

The palace had lost much of its original splendor. the splendor of the ancient monument awed us into silence
Recent Examples on the Web It's followed by Chattanooga, Tennessee, in third, which, like Sedona, wins out with its natural splendor. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2024 For his part, Castellini Baldissera hopes that Arnault will restore his great-great-grandfather’s apartment to its original splendor. Nick Haramis Guido Taroni, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Maybe not the most romantic splendor that could be envisioned. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 Her style is a neon-Gothic splendor, combining turn-of-the-century elements with a bold ‘80s color palette. Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2024 Mac begins the evening in fifties-hostess splendor: a wig of rose-colored tulle, pink cigarette pants, and a dress with panniers à la polonaise. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024 Her style is neon-gothic splendor, combining turn-of-the-century elements with a bold ’80s color palette. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024 In the southern reaches of Australia, where the vast ocean stretches towards Antarctica, lies a hidden gem that rivals the famed Galapagos Islands in its natural splendor and unique wildlife. Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 But after the 1950s, closer inspection began to prompt some celebration of the splendors and marvels of this range. Paul McHugh, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'splendor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English splendure, from Anglo-French splendur, from Latin splendor, from splendēre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of splendor was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near splendor

Cite this Entry

“Splendor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splendor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

splendor

noun
splen·​dor ˈsplen-dər How to pronounce splendor (audio)
1
: great brightness : brilliance
the splendor of the sun
2
: pomp sense 1, glory
the splendor of ancient Rome
3
: something splendid
the splendors of the past
splendorous adjective
also splendrous

More from Merriam-Webster on splendor

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