grandiose

[gran-dee-ohs, gran-dee-ohs]

adjective

1. affectedly grand or important; pompous.

   grandiose words.

   Synonyms: extravagant, high-flown, splashy, flamboyant, affected, pretentious

2. more complicated or elaborate than necessary; overblown.

   a grandiose scheme.

3. grand in an imposing or impressive way.

4. Psychiatry.,  having an exaggerated belief in one's importance, sometimes reaching delusional proportions, and occurring as a common symptom of mental illnesses, as manic disorder.

grandiose

/ ˌɡrændɪˈɒsɪtɪ, ˈɡrændɪˌəʊs /

adjective

1. pretentiously grand or stately

2. imposing in conception or execution

Other Word Forms

• grandiosity noun
• grandiosely adverb
• grandioseness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grandiose¹

First recorded in 1830–40; from French, from Italian grandioso, from Latin grandi(s) “grand” + -ōsus adjective suffix ( -ose ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of grandiose¹

C19: from French, from Italian grandioso, from grande great; see _grand

Synonym Study

Grandiose, showy, ostentatious, pretentious all refer to conspicuous outward display, either designed to attract attention or likely to do so. Grandiose and showy are alike in that they may suggest impressiveness that is not objectionable: the grandiose sweep of the arch; a fresh bouquet of showy zinnias. Grandiose, however, most often implies inflation or exaggeration to the point of absurdity: grandiose, impractical plans; a ridiculously grandiose manner. Showy sometimes suggests a meretricious gaudiness or flashiness: a showy taste in dress. Ostentatious, which refers to behavior or manner clearly designed to impress, also has negative connotations: an ostentatious display of wealth; an assumption of superiority too ostentatious to be ignored. Pretentious, like the preceding term, is always derogatory, implying falseness or exaggeration in claims made or implied: natural and straightforward, not pretentious; pretentious language designed to mask the absence of real content.

Example Sentences

The grandiose Columbus figure, meantime, remains out of public sight in museum storage.

From Los Angeles Times

The grandiose castle on “The Traitors” is an apt setting for the conniving game show, immersing players in a historic location in the Scottish Highlands.

From Los Angeles Times

The grandiose overreach of the second Trump regime has clearly fueled a normie backlash in many parts of the world, pumping new life into mainstream political parties that had seemed to be in terminal decline.

From Salon

For Sebastián Yatra, a miracle doesn’t have to be a grandiose happenstance; it can be a child’s smile, the perfect cup of tea or rain on a sunny day.

From Los Angeles Times

Once a smooth-talking R&B singer with a baby-soft voice to match, his increasing popularity saw his art become outsized, more grandiose.

From Salon

Related Words

• ambitious 
• bombastic 
• flamboyant 
• grand 
• imposing 
• lofty 
• magnificent 
• monumental 
• noble 
• pompous 
• pretentious 
• showy 
• splashy