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Definition of grandiose

grandiose

/ˈɡræn.di.oʊs/
gran · di · ose
Adverb:grandiosely
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grandiose Lexical Profile

grandiose Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Extravagantly or ambitiously large and imposing in scale or scope, often to an impractical, exaggerated, or pretentious degree.

Example

"The developer's grandiose plans for a floating city quickly collapsed due to a lack of funding."

2

Characterized by an unrealistic sense of superiority, self-importance, or omnipotence (especially in psychology and psychiatry).

Example

"During his manic episodes, the patient exhibited grandiose delusions of being a world-famous inventor."

3

Impressive and magnificent in appearance or style; grand and majestic.

Example

"The opera house features a grandiose marble staircase that greets visitors in the main foyer."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for grandiose
Antonyms
View all antonyms for grandiose

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'grand' carries a genuinely positive sense of majesty and splendor, 'grandiose' almost always carries a negative or skeptical undertone, implying that something is overblown, pretentious, or unrealistically ambitious.

• Nearby Words

grandeur
grandfather
grandfatherly
grandiose
grandiosely
grandioseness
grandiosity

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 18th century from French grandiose, which came from Italian grandioso, ultimately derived from Latin grandis ('great, large').

Cite this Entry

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