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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective grand differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of grand are grandiose, imposing, magnificent, majestic, and stately. While all these words mean "large and impressive," grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.

a grand staircase

Where would grandiose be a reasonable alternative to grand?

In some situations, the words grandiose and grand are roughly equivalent. However, grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience, but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration.

grandiose hydroelectric projects
grandiose schemes

When can imposing be used instead of grand?

The meanings of imposing and grand largely overlap; however, imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.

an imposing edifice

When could magnificent be used to replace grand?

The words magnificent and grand can be used in similar contexts, but magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste.

magnificent paintings

How does the word majestic relate to other synonyms for grand?

Majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.

a majestic waterfall

When is it sensible to use stately instead of grand?

While the synonyms stately and grand are close in meaning, stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.

the stately procession

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 grand Davidson then revealed his new grand scheme for the ferry, in the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025 As China rolls out a grand plan for integrating artificial intelligence into the economy, the latest earnings results show that some companies are already seeing results amid slower overall growth . Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 9 Nov. 2025 In the grander scheme, Big Pete joins his family across North Carolina to protect the grandmother tree. Khadejeh Nikouyeh, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025 In starring in Christy, in other words, Sweeney is participating in two of the grand traditions of actors wanting to demonstrate their seriousness and also potentially win an award. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grand
Adjective
  • The Windtraders are a flying tribe with magnificent crafts to soar above Pandora.
    Fred Topel, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
  • His garden was truly magnificent.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • But for much of the past two centuries, Port Renfrew’s main source of employment was not promoting trees but rather chopping them down—particularly, giant, old-growth trees that fetched the highest value.
    Brad Badelt, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Rachelle Salnave, a filmmaker in Haiti, sent me videos of a piece of the Route Nationale, the country’s main transportation artery, collapsing like a glacier into a roiling, swollen river.
    Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • This was a serious favor to extend to the son of an old friend, to take me from nowhere and propel me to the middle of that whole game.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • For many people, a whole grain sourdough provides an ideal balance—offering the fiber and nutrients of whole wheat with the digestibility and flavor benefits of fermentation.
    Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Put another way, how are the 19,000 or so students at the third-largest school district in Arkansas performing?
    Dmitry Martirosov, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Sea shares plunged in Tuesday trading, despite Southeast Asia’s largest tech company reporting double-digit growth in all three of its business divisions for the most recent quarter.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, meanwhile, is located in the former hunting lodge of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg, and its Munich branch sits at the former Bavarian State Bank headquarters and the adjacent Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, originally an aristocratic residence from the 1700s.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Federalist critics in Congress argued the colonnades looked aristocratic.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Christos honored their promise by gifting me with a wonderful collage in addition to my one-dollar paycheck.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • That scene was so incredibly awkward… and wonderful.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • At the center of all the glitzy havoc—her face often looming on a huge flat screen that rolls around the stage, following actors like a hulking LED stalker—is of course Chenoweth.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Todd also had a huge sack in the fourth quarter.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Also, Star soccer correspondent Daniel Sperry breaks down the crushing conclusion to the Kansas City Current’s playoff run, a loss to Gotham FC in the NWSL quarterfinal round, and offers a final analysis of a team that couldn’t build on its glorious regular season.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Seventeen-year-old Nell, whose father is filmmaker Tim Burton, wears the glorious piece in the campaign.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grand. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

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