sublimity

noun

sub·​lim·​i·​ty sə-ˈbli-mə-tē How to pronounce sublimity (audio)
plural sublimities
1
: the quality or state of being sublime
2
: something sublime or exalted

Examples of sublimity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Few who witness it ever forget the feeling of sublimity caused by the perception of their own insignificance when set against the spectacular backdrop of the incomprehensible vastness of Donald Trump’s crimes. Nathaniel Stein, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2023 Greatness, perfection, sublimity: the appropriate vocabulary for a certain kind of cultural experience. Teju Cole, New York Times, 25 May 2023 Erstwhile bank robber Rafael (Brandon Ocasio, radiating spot-on verve and earnestness) has learned from Montrellous to aspire to sandwich sublimity. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2023 Surpassing all stupendous inventions, what sublimity of mind was his who dreamed of finding means to communicate his deepest thoughts to any other person, however distant, by mighty intervals of place and time! George Johnson, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2013 The hushed sublimity of the halls of the Rand Corp. circa 1970 has given way. Jordy Rosenberg, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2022 The film, in its tendency to embrace the unanticipated, reflects the wide-eyed sublimity in facing the unknown that is also inherent to being a teen-ager. The New Yorker, 15 July 2022 Expect sublimity as one of the greatest conductors of our time and one of our greatest pianists meet on a program featuring two works from the heart of the canon. Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 20 Sep. 2022 But that grandeur, sublimity, and loveliness Roosevelt spoke of? Katherine Lagrave, Outside Online, 25 Feb. 2019 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sublimity.' 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

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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

Dictionary Entries Near sublimity

Cite this Entry

“Sublimity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sublimity. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

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