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Definition of breathtaking

breathtaking

/ˈbrɛθˌteɪ.kɪŋ/
breath · tak · ing
Adverb:breathtakingly
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breathtaking Lexical Profile

breathtaking Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Astonishing or awe-inspiring in quality, beauty, or scale, so as to take one's breath away.

Example

"From the summit of the mountain, hikers are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the alpine valley below."

2

Shocking or extreme in degree, audacity, or speed (often used of negative qualities such as arrogance, incompetence, or recklessness).

Example

"The report exposed a breathtaking level of negligence in the company's safety protocols."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

breathless
breathlessly
breathlessness
breathtaking
breathtakingly
breathy
breda

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 19th century as a compound of the noun 'breath' and the present participle 'taking', modeled on the idiom 'to take one's breath away' to describe something so striking or astonishing that it causes a momentary gasp.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Breathtaking. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/breathtaking
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