Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective glorious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glorious are gorgeous, resplendent, splendid, sublime, and superb. While all these words mean "extraordinarily or transcendently impressive," glorious suggests radiance that heightens beauty or distinction.

a glorious sunset

When could gorgeous be used to replace glorious?

The words gorgeous and glorious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gorgeous implies a rich splendor especially in display of color.

a gorgeous red dress

When is it sensible to use resplendent instead of glorious?

The synonyms resplendent and glorious are sometimes interchangeable, but resplendent suggests a glowing or blazing splendor.

resplendent in her jewelry

Where would splendid be a reasonable alternative to glorious?

While in some cases nearly identical to glorious, splendid implies outshining the usual or customary.

the wedding was a splendid occasion

When might sublime be a better fit than glorious?

The meanings of sublime and glorious largely overlap; however, sublime implies an exaltation or elevation almost beyond human comprehension.

a vision of sublime beauty

When would superb be a good substitute for glorious?

While the synonyms superb and glorious are close in meaning, superb suggests an excellence reaching the highest conceivable degree.

her singing was superb

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 glorious In any case, The Wren, which Mester co-owns with Rosemary Liss, is most glorious when taken as prescribed. The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025 Amid all its glorious and aesthetic architecture lies the massive environmental impact that cannot be ignored. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025 In all its glorious oddness, Good Boy recalls a particular boom time in British exploitation cinema for horror films that weren’t necessarily horror films, movies with titles like Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly, What the Peeper Saw and almost anything by Peter Walker. Damon Wise, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025 When something as glorious as a pocket listing is offered like a blowjob under the table, your alarms have to go off. Eddie Huang, Curbed, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for glorious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glorious
Adjective
  • All of them have been magnificent.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
  • All of them have been magnificent.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Clark, who knelt beside Foo 30 years ago when the surfer was pulled lifeless from the sea, watched Slebir’s epic ride that day from the back of a Sea-Doo, set up to pull flailing surfers aboard.
    Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • American growth and opportunity in times like 1836-61 and 1865-1913—and even, sure enough, 1811-12—was epic.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But guests also have a chance to get up close with these majestic animals.
    Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The honor fell to Rival Son’s majestic vocalist Jay Buchanan, who took the stage barefoot, in a maroon suit, and proceeded to devour the angry rock anthem.
    Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • At the heart of the property is the tahona, used to grind the agave used to make mezcal; this one is solar-powered though no less imposing.
    Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Drafted in the second round, 50th overall, last year out of TCU, the physically imposing, 6-foot-6, 250-pound lefty debuted at the Single-A level in April.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • As Cantillo dissected his outing, Hedges peered over at him, beaming like a proud father.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But the proud Eugene will not hear of it.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In short, the massive popularity of its original anime ‘80s run wasn’t matched by its merchandising, and that’s something that is now being belatedly addressed.
    Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Musk has long said Starship’s sheer size and power could make brand-new types of missions possible, including carrying groups of humans to Mars and deploying massive new space telescopes.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hollywood loves a grand gesture.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Smart underwent knee surgery four days later — the same day she was set to open her grand return to Broadway in the one-woman show Call Me Izzy, forcing her to announce a temporary leave.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Glorious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glorious. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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