grandeur

noun

gran·​deur ˈgran-jər 

-ˌju̇r,

-ˌd(y)u̇r,

-d(y)ər

1

: the quality or state of being grand : magnificence

the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome

—E. A. Poe

2

: an instance or example of grandeur

visited the awesome grandeurs of the American West

Synonyms

• augustness
• brilliance
• gloriousness
• glory
• gorgeousness
• grandness
• magnificence
• majesty
• nobility
• nobleness
• resplendence
• resplendency
• splendidness
• splendiferousness
• splendor
• stateliness
• stupendousness
• sublimeness
• superbness

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

The Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River blends riverside serenity with cosmopolitan buzz and achieves the holy grail of marrying grandeur and scale with intimate spaces. —Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

There was just none of the storied grandeur of using the Capitol itself as a backdrop, nor the ability to capture the throngs of people stretching out onto the D.C. horizon. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2025

Tucked away on a residential street in Southwest Broward County lies a holy structure of architectural grandeur that looks as if it were uprooted straight from India and transplanted to South Florida. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2025

Seeing Mars, twice the size of the Moon, rising above the lunar horizon like a rusty BB pellet next to a dusty volleyball provided a perfect illustration of the scale and grandeur of the Solar System. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from grand

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

grandeur

noun

gran·​deur ˈgran-jər 

1

: the quality or state of being grand : awe-inspiring magnificence

2

: something that is grand