spectacular 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of spectacularnext
1
as in extravagant

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in incredible

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

spectacular

2 of 2

noun

as in exhibit
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event the larger-than-life spectaculars that make Las Vegas attractive to people with little interest in gambling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 spectacular
Adjective
Then getting that energy to major cities means traversing some of the most pristine, spectacular natural corridors this nation has left, and particularly in the Southwest, rubbing up against the sacred lands of local tribal communities. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026 By Antonelli’s standards this year, the Asian races were successful rather than spectacular. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
The patriotic spectaculars are part of the team’s celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026 In what is being compared to a Super Bowl spectacular, the performances are set to be broadcast live to millions of soccer fans. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for spectacular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectacular
  1. extravagant
  2. incredible
  3. exhibit
  4. flamboyant
  5. extraordinary
  6. pageant
  7. showy
  8. phenomenal
Adjective
  • But a new novel by Lucy Foley is setting Poirot aside and blowing the dust off the mild-mannered Marple by whisking her away to an extravagant Swiss Alps adventure.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The ultimate reward isn’t retiring on a beach or buying something extravagant.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of extravagant
Adjective
  • Achieving incredible data transmission speed The researcher fabricated the device using a 300-millimeter silicon-on-insulator manufacturing process.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • This year’s incredible class of awardees includes Jason Bolden, Kellon Deryck, Molly Greenwald, Chris Horan, Amy Komorowski, Thuy Nguyen, Law Roach, and Trish Summerville.
    — InStyle, InStyle, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of incredible
Noun
  • Major museums, including the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, the Picasso Museum and the Grand Palais — where a major Cézanne exhibit is on display — were shuttered Saturday.
    — Richard Engel, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The exhibition celebrates these workers, many of them immigrants, through exhibits like the photographs of Robert Doisneau, who worked for Renault full-time from 1934 to 1939.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhibit
Adjective
  • Witty, bitter, flamboyant, and emotionally grounded, the dialogue swings, delightfully, between intimate exchanges and grandiloquent soliloquies, capturing the vulnerability of idealists in the face of evil.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • That’s because the invasive lionfish—flamboyant enough that Bowman likens it to a Mardi Gras drag queen—wasn’t traditionally on the menu.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of flamboyant
Adjective
  • Some of the rooms are off-limits, but visitors will get to see Duke's extraordinary collection of Islamic art.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Portland decision — based in part on data the Department of Justice later admitted was false — prompted an extraordinary filing by Judge Jay Bybee, who all but pleaded with the court to rehear the case and interpret the law differently.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Noun
  • The Glow Cushion will not give you that beauty pageant look—which is the point.
    — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2026
  • They’re then forced to compete in a beauty pageant, wearing lingerie and swimsuits, which Galán considers to be the ultimate motivator.
    — Jolene Edgar, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of pageant
Adjective
  • In late spring and summer, the showy flowers emit a light scent and attract all kinds of pollinators.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The modern version is far more sumptuous than the hard-wearing trousers of our youth—an everyman’s velvet, rich but rarely showy.
    — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of showy
Adjective
  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s transportation reporter, Sara Gregory, did a phenomenal job breaking down the deal in detail.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The size of the apples in your fritters, CP, are absolutely phenomenal.
    — Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of phenomenal

Browse Nearby Words

spectacles
spectacular
spectacularly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spectacular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectacular. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All