Word
grandiose
US/ˈɡɹændiˌoʊs/
UK/ɡɹˈændɪˌəʊz/
Definition
adj. describing something that is very large, expensive, or impressive, often in a way that is too much for the situation. It can also describe a person who thinks they are much more important than they really are.
adj. characterised by an exaggerated sense of importance or scale; overly elaborate or ambitious. Often used to describe architectural styles or individuals with an inflated self-image.
Examples
“The hotel has a grandiose entrance with gold-plated doors.”
“He had a grandiose plan to build a skyscraper in the middle of the park, ignoring the local residents' concerns.”
“The architect's grandiose vision for the new museum was eventually scaled back to fit the city's budget and the practical limitations of the site.”
Examples
simple
“The hotel has a grandiose entrance with gold-plated doors.”
contextual
“He had a grandiose plan to build a skyscraper in the middle of the park, ignoring the local residents' concerns.”
complex
“The architect's grandiose vision for the new museum was eventually scaled back to fit the city's budget and the practical limitations of the site.”
Real-World Examples
“The point is modest – scroll less, read more – but the tone is grandiose.” “A humble and open maker, and deeply skilled, he doesn’t actively seek to be anything grandiose.” “Although self-serving and grandiose, Ziz is probably to some extent sincere – “a true believer”, one person told me.” Etymology
From French grandiose, from Italian grandioso, from Latin grandis (“great, grand”) (English grand). Possibly from grand + -ose, though to be debated. Doublet of grandioso.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/grandiose