1
as in excellent
of the very best kind
this cake is great!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skillful
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
one of the great anthropologists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in noble
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature
a great humanitarian great acts of charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in long
lasting for a considerable time
haven't seen them in a great while
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind
saw a great moose calmly walking through our backyard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest
she's great on any type of sport that requires endurance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in greatest
coming before all others in importance
regards global warming as the great issue of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
a descendant of one of the great families of Philadelphia
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nicely
in a pleasing way
the game was going great for the home team
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 great
Janet McCracken, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026
The danger is that the new rule cements festival tiering to an even greater extent and creates more of a have and have nots landscape.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The Hornets played great and made those plays down the stretch.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for great
Adjective
Eating a cold slice of cantaloupe over a kitchen sink, its juices dripping down your forearms, is one of summer’s greatest pleasures.
—Janet McCracken, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026
The danger is that the new rule cements festival tiering to an even greater extent and creates more of a have and have nots landscape.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Adverb
What emerged was an outstanding union of musical influences that act as two great tastes that taste great together!
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The Hornets played great and made those plays down the stretch.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for great
Recent Examples of Synonyms for great
Adjective
-
Christopher Sanchez has once again been excellent, and Jacob Misiorowski has often looked unhittable with over 14 strikeouts per nine innings.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
The excellent, nonprofit gallery and incubator known as PlatteForum has moved around a bit over the years, and will reopen in the Art District on Santa Fe starting June 5.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
This country has produced leaders who understood that the office was never about them, that service means something, and that the people watching from home deserve better than a system that rewards the skillful exit over the honest reckoning.—
Nick Weston,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
Miami coach Mario Cristobal is known for his skillful recruiting of top prospects.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Isn’t poetry the most noble of arts, the most sacred, the one nobody, far less someone devoted to writing, should question?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
For whatever reason, even the best of intentions and most noble of goals fall short sometimes.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
While Spain offers a European setting, many eclipse chasers are eyeing destinations like Tunisia and Egypt for their very long totalities and very high chances of clear skies.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
-
But Thunder reserve guard Isaiah Joe, who had been relatively quiet after torching the Lakers from long range during the regular season (12 for 17 from 3-point range in their final two matchups), made consecutive 3-pointers to give the Thunder a 90-79 cushion entering the fourth quarter.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Trinidad and Tobago conducts significant oil and gas exploration activity both on land and in shallow waters, and is one of the Caribbean’s largest producers, according to official information from Trinidad’s Ministry of Energy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
The smallest player on the floor is putting up the largest numbers.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Blaszczyk, Cornelius and Salinas families were among approximately 10,000 people who saw Xonita Saturday and Sunday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, excited to get a look, take pictures, and, in some cases, buy their own smaller versions of the bear.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
On Saturday at rookie minicamp, Mauigoa was asked about a video of Giants offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren getting excited when the team picked the Hurricanes standout.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
My father, a boy, sat in the back seat with his brothers and Choute—Duchess of Montmoreau, née de Troguindy, a beautiful and aristocratic woman who went by this single childhood nickname.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
News articles and photos of the casual picnic enamored Americans, transforming their view of the royals as rigid and aristocratic to more down-to-earth.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Either way, Netflix respectfully disagrees with the honorable gentleman from the former Republic of Texas, to put it nicely.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
-
The hardwood floors throughout are nicely maintained with thin beams and decorative borders.—
Katie McDonough,
Curbed,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Great.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/great. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
