august

adjective

ȯ-ˈgəst How to pronounce august (audio)
Definition of augustnext
1
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner unsurprisingly, the head of the bank is an august white-haired gentleman

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in glorious
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception an august golden anniversary celebration for the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of august The metropolitan elitism that looks down from the august heights of Ivy League self-esteem on the centrality of athletic programs to so many colleges is quite entrenched. — Gerard Baker, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2020 For its presiding officer, Chief Justice John Roberts, the trial ought to be imagined as an earnest weighing up of truth and lies by a most august assembly. — Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 30 Jan. 2020 Tut-tutting about how the president and his minions have turned an august judicial process into an over-the-top spectacle is not going to get them anywhere, especially with their otherwise reliable media allies. — Matthew Walther, TheWeek, 17 Jan. 2020 At the moment, the Oscars reflect the Academy, but the Academy reflects nothing but its august name; plausible deniability and the shunning of responsibility are built into the current system. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2020 See All Example Sentences for august
Recent Examples of Synonyms for august
  1. imposing
  2. glorious
  3. solemn
  4. magnificent
  5. distinguished
  6. epic
  7. staid
  8. royal
Adjective
  • The source of Soloviev’s angst lay in part in growing up with a father who was one of the more imposing, cantankerous figures in the history of New York real estate — a demographic with stiff competition.
    — Reeves Wiedeman, Curbed, 22 June 2026
  • There’s Chateau de Fère and Les Crayères, which is very imposing and old-fashioned; a couple of very nice funky little boutique hotels (including one owned by the Selosse family who make amazing, and amazingly priced, grower Champagne) and lots of good chambres d'hôtes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
Definition of imposing
Adjective
  • Oh, and hundreds of her works fill the screen, a magnificent and vibrant tour through her glorious career.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Perhaps the best perk of the suite was the large balcony with ample plump seating and an atmospheric floor lamp, a glorious extension of the indoor space for prime castle viewing.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of glorious
Adjective
  • In both the novel and its film adaptation, the scriptorium is portrayed as a solemn place where writing is a mechanical, joyless labor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • But the challenge has remained over the decades for popes that the threat of schism, or a rupture within the church, might lurk behind a preference for a more solemn liturgy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Oh, and hundreds of her works fill the screen, a magnificent and vibrant tour through her glorious career.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The Bowers & Wilkins audio system is magnificent to listen to but also ingeniously integrated within the cockpit.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
Definition of magnificent
Adjective
  • To mark the occasion of America’s centennial, the people of Taunton, Massachusetts, invited James Russell Lowell—distinguished poet, founding editor of The Atlantic—to compose and read an ode for the Fourth of July.
    — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026
  • Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative, is a member of the British Parliament and a distinguished fellow at the Hudson Institute.
    — Tom Tugendhat, Washington Post, 2 July 2026
Definition of distinguished
Adjective
  • Mario Lopez’s new Christmas movie — much like his epic Christmas celebrations at home — has become a family affair.
    — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Shobeir denied Argentina again five minutes before halftime as Julián Álvarez attempted to turn in a cross from Tagliafico, but the diving Egyptian keeper continued his brilliant game with an epic save.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of epic
Adjective
  • All this adds to that signature Hermès sense of lightness and joy, in what otherwise would be a staid and heavy, storied luxury house.
    — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 28 June 2026
  • In the late ‘60s, Davis lucratively moved staid Columbia into the rock business, signing or developing such talents as Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana and Bruce Springsteen.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 25 June 2026
Definition of staid
Adjective
  • The historic celebration, watched by hundreds of millions, had Hollywood appeal, welcoming Serena Williams, Idris Elba, David and Victoria Beckham and George Clooney, in addition to the royal family members in attendance.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Rosewood Fuschl’s Sissi suite can easily be considered a highlight with a freestanding bathtub, a century-old wooden wardrobe, and fluttering fabric panels around the bed (the modern interpretation of a royal four-poster bed).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of royal

Browse Nearby Words

augury
august
augustness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“August.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/august. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on august

Nglish: Translation of august for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about august

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All