grandeur

noun

gran·​deur ˈgran-jər How to pronounce grandeur (audio)
-ˌju̇r, 
-ˌd(y)u̇r, 
-d(y)ər
Synonyms of grandeur
1
: the quality or state of being grand : magnificence
… the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome.—Edgar Allan Poe
2
: an instance or example of grandeur
visited the awesome grandeurs of the American West

Synonyms of grandeur

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Examples of grandeur in a Sentence

His paintings capture the beauty and grandeur of the landscape. They are restoring the hotel to its original grandeur.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
At 8 o’clock Wednesday morning, with rain clouds gathering in the distance, a work crew applied the finishing touches to a new Altadena home with giant picture windows that frame the grandeur of the San Gabriel Mountains. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 In the bedrooms, crown molding, sophisticated light fixtures, and canopy beds exude Gothic grandeur. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026 In the 40 years since, every facet of Spacemen 3’s story has been turned over and generously embellished, resulting in an excess of grandeur and foresight projected onto the duo at the heart of it. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026 Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, the film follows Ortega as a robot girl experiencing the grandeur of human life for the first time. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grandeur

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from grand

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grandeur was in 1632

Rhymes for grandeur

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Browse Nearby Words

Grande-Terre
grandeur
grandevity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grandeur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grandeur. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

grandeur

noun
gran·​deur ˈgran-jər How to pronounce grandeur (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being grand : awe-inspiring magnificence
2
: something that is grand
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