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magnificent

magnificent

299 3.9
Very impressive and beautiful in appearance or style
  • adjective
  • /mæɡˈnɪfɪsənt/
translation icon : magnífico
  • The view from the mountaintop was absolutely magnificent, with colorful valleys stretching as far as the eye could see.
  • a magnificent view
  • a magnificent building
  • a magnificent city

It's one of the most magnificent stories of Genesis.

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Examples

  • The one we found at an auction this winter is a magnificent example of the proper period.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • With such international exposure, these magnificent sculptures from Central Africa will be hidden no longer.

    Academic text (1995)
  • And they put me up in a magnificent room as their guest.

  • And Oh my gosh, guys, look at this magnificent church.

  • It's just a magnificent sight.

  • It's one of the most magnificent stories of Genesis.

  • The result is the magnificent light show we know as the auroras.

  • I mean, he's such a magnificent actor and so versatile.

  • She was a magnificent performer, and she had a dynamic personality.

  • I climbed in and turned to look at him, ruddy and magnificent in the sunset glow.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

amazing
vsmagnificent
1.0

Causing great surprise and admiration

is more steady, formal, and focused on grand visual style
grand
vsmagnificent
918 3.0

Impressive and large in appearance or style

matches that scale but adds richer, ornate elegance
terrific
vsmagnificent
815 3.3

Very strong and often causing great damage

is more refined and stately rather than simply intense
gorgeous
vsmagnificent
692 2.0

Very beautiful to look at

stresses large-scale style and grand presentation over mere beauty
fantastic
vsmagnificent
626 1.9

Very good and impressive, making you feel pleased

is more about stately appearance and dignified splendour than fun
remarkable
vsmagnificent
588 2.8

Unusual and easy to notice because it is different or surprising

is more about elegant grandness than mere surprise or oddness
spectacular
vsmagnificent
265 3.5

Very impressive and exciting to look at

is less about spectacle and more about refined grandness
glorious
vsmagnificent
253 3.6

Very beautiful and impressive in a way that makes people admire it

focuses more on noble grandness and formal spectacle
marvelous
vsmagnificent
  • US
251 1.8

Very good and surprising in a way that pleases people

emphasizes noble, large-scale style over general wonder or delight
stunning
vsmagnificent
210 3.7

Very beautiful and impressive to look at

emphasizes sustained grandeur and formal elegance instead of shock
phenomenal
vsmagnificent
113 5.4

Very impressive and much better than normal

is oriented toward visible grand style rather than sheer extraordinariness
splendid
vsmagnificent
110 3.5

Very impressive and beautiful

is more about grand style and formal splendor
breathtaking
vsmagnificent
77 3.5

A very beautiful and surprising sight that amazes you

is impressive but more composed and formally grand rather than shocking
majestic
vsmagnificent
50 4.3

Having great beauty and causing people to feel respect

is broader, not specially tied to regal or dignified tone
sublime
vsmagnificent
  • Literature
43 6.7

Extremely beautiful or great in a way that makes people feel wonder

is more about visible style and large scale splendor
dazzling
vsmagnificent
39 3.9

Very impressive and attractive in a way that gets attention

is subtler, focusing on overall grand and splendid appearance
brilliant
vsmagnificent
30 3.2

Very impressive and grand in appearance or style

leans more toward large, grand presentation rather than sparkle
stupendous
vsmagnificent
19 6.7

Very large or impressive in a way that amazes people

is impressive too but focuses on elegant style more than size
in all its glory
vsmagnificent
7 5.8

A time when something looks very beautiful and impressive

is a general quality of grand or splendid appearance rather than a moment
splendiferous
vsmagnificent
5 9.9

Very beautiful and impressive, like at a big party

is the calmer, more formal expression of grand style
fabulous
vsmagnificent
5 4.2

So surprising that it seems hard to believe

is believable grandeur rooted in formal style rather than surprise
majestical
vsmagnificent
  • Archaic
1 7.7

Large and impressive in a way that makes people feel wonder

is less exclusively regal and more generally grand in style
simply awesome
vsmagnificent
  • Informal
1 4.1

Very impressive and making people feel amazed

leans more toward classic, formal grandness rather than casual praise
splendorous
vsmagnificent
  • Literature
1 7.5

Very beautiful and impressive to look at

has a broader sense of grand or formal display
magnifique
vsmagnificent
8.5

Very beautiful and impressive in a way people admire

is the standard, neutral term for grand and splendid appearance

Antonyms

683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

9 3.9

Not very good or likely to attract attention

How Magnificent

breathtaking
77 3.5
splendid
110 3.5
magnificent
299 3.9
beautiful
1.0
attractive
680 1.0
pleasant
314 1.0

Surface Forms

magnificent positive
magnificenter comparative
magnificentest superlative

Morphology

magnificent = magnificence (opaque) = magn + fic + ent

Although historically analyzable into Latin combining forms (magn- + -fic + -ent), these parts are not productive or recognizable to average learners, so the adjective's meaning cannot be derived from known English base words.

Etymology

The word magnificent comes from the Latin parts magnus ('great') and facere ('to make'). So it originally meant 'to make great', the same idea you see in magnify ('make larger'), and that's why magnificent describes something very grand and impressive.