1
as in magnificent
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception
a grandiose plan to upgrade the entire interstate highway system in 10 years
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
made some grandiose claim that she was the descendant of a French princess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grandiose
But their rise has also attracted a slew of criticism, fueled in recent decades by the grandiose lifestyles and criminal convictions of some godmen.
—
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Mike begins to struggle with the idea of doing something that might finally give his life (and his death) meaning, and although the film goes in absurd directions, Gavras sells it by pitching everything at the level of epic satire, his grandiose images working in tandem with moments of broad humor.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
High school coaches are now guiding their young players to start looking at smaller colleges instead of having grandiose dreams of joining the big-time programs right away.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
In mid-August, the Governor’s official X account began mocking the President in his own addled, grandiose, all-caps style.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grandiose
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Mike begins to struggle with the idea of doing something that might finally give his life (and his death) meaning, and although the film goes in absurd directions, Gavras sells it by pitching everything at the level of epic satire, his grandiose images working in tandem with moments of broad humor.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
High school coaches are now guiding their young players to start looking at smaller colleges instead of having grandiose dreams of joining the big-time programs right away.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
In mid-August, the Governor’s official X account began mocking the President in his own addled, grandiose, all-caps style.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grandiose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandiose
Adjective
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When the best that Dallas has to offer — from the architect to the builder to the landscaping and beyond — collaborate, the result is a contemporary home that feels timeless, restorative and magnificent.—
Allie Beth Allman & Associates,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
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Benito’s magnificent staging mirrored our strength and encouraged us to stay in the fight, in whatever language speaks to our hearts.—
Lara N. Dotson-Renta,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And ironically, the most arrogant ones are the worst ones.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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But there’s a throughline in Smith’s most popular works — he’s been cast repeatedly as a villain, and usually an arrogant or smug one.—
Sophia Solano,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The most iconic highway in the country reaches its centennial this year – and travelers are ready to celebrate with an epic road trip.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
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However, that doesn't mean his compositions for Rob Marshall's epic 2005 film — starring a who's who of Asia's finest acting talent, including Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, and Ken Watanabe — aren't worth seeking out.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Set to a jazzy score and shot on the streets, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is filled with life, though not in an ostentatious, masquerading way.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2026
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In fact, director William Wyler’s 1939 Hollywood adaptation — with its ostentatious outfits and romantic focus — feels like a better companion piece than the original literary source material.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Other artists have tried to tackle this melodrama by grounding us in specific characters’ perspectives, or by heightening the performances, but Fennell embraces the story’s fundamental absurdism by giving us absurd and often glorious images.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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That grandiosity simmers down into terrifying chase soundtracks and menacing hunter's heartbeats as the movie continues, but the after-image of those glorious strings lingers through the rest of the franchise.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But Newsom’s shadow diplomacy, widely seen as a pretentious distraction during the Biden years, has a different look at a moment of nativism and trade conflict in Washington.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
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Elevated with an ever-evolving menu of dishes in a non-pretentious yet upscale environment, Forty 1 is led by Chef Lindsey Dale who is no stranger to fresh, local ingredients, and who also works closely with local purveyors.—
David Duran,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The team had already excavated the other three corners of a narrow tomb occupied by an imposing, unnamed sarcophagus.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
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The most imposing building on Main Street is a gun shop called Chandler’s Firearms Estates, on the corner of East Church Street.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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When a pompous male customer refused to be waited on by a female server, Bass quietly approached the table.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
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Jeffrey Tambor Known for playing the pompous, self-important mayor of Whoville, Jeffery Tambor also has an esteemed career across television and film.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grandiose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiose. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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