adj
grandiose
gran-dee-OHS
Grandiose (adj) means Extremely ambitious or impressive in scale. Example: “He unveiled a grandiose plan to redevelop the entire waterfront.”
adj
1
Extremely ambitious or impressive in scale.
"He unveiled a grandiose plan to redevelop the entire waterfront."
2
Pompous or overblown, more showy than genuinely impressive.
"Critics mocked the grandiose title sequence as pretentious."
How to use grandiose
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBig and impressive-sounding, often with a hint that it is overdone or unrealistic.
Common mistake
Unlike plain "grand," grandiose usually carries a negative or skeptical tone, suggesting the scale is exaggerated or pretentious.
Common pairings
grandiose plan
grandiose scheme
grandiose vision
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more grandiose
- Superlative
- most grandiose
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He unveiled a _____ plan to redevelop the entire waterfront.
Etymology
From French grandiose, from Italian grandioso, ultimately from Latin grandis, "great."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grandiose
See all rhymes for grandiose →Frequently asked questions
What does “grandiose” mean?
The word “grandiose” means extremely ambitious or impressive in scale. In plain terms, big and impressive-sounding, often with a hint that it is overdone or unrealistic.
How do you pronounce “grandiose”?
“Grandiose” is pronounced gran-dee-OHS (/ɡɹæn.diˈəʊs/ in IPA).
How do you use “grandiose” in a sentence?
Here is “grandiose” used in a sentence: “He unveiled a grandiose plan to redevelop the entire waterfront.”
What part of speech is “grandiose”?
“Grandiose” is an adjective.
Where does the word “grandiose” come from?
The word “grandiose” comes from Latin. From French grandiose, from Italian grandioso, ultimately from Latin grandis, "great.".
How many meanings does “grandiose” have?
“Grandiose” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely ambitious or impressive in scale.
