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Is the word awesome overused?
Many object to the use of awesome to describe something (such as a sandwich) that does not literally elicit feelings of awe. Yet the same people who insist that awesome should be used only of weighty subjects (Niagara Falls, man landing on the moon) will happily use the word awful in reference to something (such as a mess) that falls distinctly short of being “full of awe.” This weakened sense was once considered improper—in fact, complaints about it persisted through the early decades of the 20th century.
The change in meaning that awesome is undergoing may be more recent than that of awful, but both words are treading the same path. For evidence that such change is normal, we need look no further than awe, which originally meant “terror” and now carries the weaker sense “wonder.”
Synonyms
Examples of awesome in a Sentence
Esther Carlstone, Parents, 18 Dec. 2024
Human individual rights and protecting them are awesome, too.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
This awesome kitchen gadget makes mashing ground meat for tacos or lasagna so easy—and kind of fun, too.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
This bum bag is awesome for dog walks, hikes, runs, gym workouts, and running errands, as it can be worn across your hips or on your torso crossbody style.
—Lauren Mazzo, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for awesome 
Dictionary Entries Near awesome
Cite this Entry
“Awesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awesome. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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awesome
adjective
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