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Synonyms

splendid

American  
[splen-did] / ˈsplɛn dɪd /

adjective

  1. gorgeous; magnificent; sumptuous.

    Synonyms:
    imposing, luxurious
    Antonyms:
    squalid
  2. grand; superb, as beauty.

    Synonyms:
    first-rate, elegant, majestic
  3. distinguished or glorious, as a name, reputation, victory, etc.

    Synonyms:
    noble, brilliant, remarkable, celebrated, conspicuous, eminent, illustrious, famous, famed, renowned
    Antonyms:
    ignoble, mediocre, unremarkable, ordinary
  4. strikingly admirable or fine.

    splendid talents.

    Antonyms:
    poor, modest
  5. excellent, fine, or very good.

    to have a splendid time.

  6. brilliant in appearance, color, etc.

    Antonyms:
    drab, dull

splendid British  
/ ˈsplɛndɪd /

adjective

  1. brilliant or fine, esp in appearance

  2. characterized by magnificence; imposing

  3. glorious or illustrious

    a splendid reputation

  4. brightly gleaming; radiant

    her splendid face

    splendid colours

  5. very good or satisfactory

    a splendid time

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See magnificent ( def. ).

Other Word Forms

  • splendidly adverb
  • splendidness noun
  • unsplendid adjective
  • unsplendidly adverb
  • unsplendidness noun

Etymology

Origin of splendid

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin splendidus “brilliant,” equivalent to splend(ēre) “to shine” + -idus adjective suffix; -id 4

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The museum gathers a splendid array of portraits to highlight the many meanings of fashion in the English painter’s work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Elsewhere, Augsburg beat St Pauli 2-1 and Werder Bremen's Keke Topp snatched a point with a splendid late goal at home in a 1-1 draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

In fairness, the “American Masters” installment is a tribute, not a term paper — and it’s a splendid homage at that.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2025

"The effect of his splendid example was immediate, and the company dashed out to the assault."

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2025

It had nothing to do with the splendor, though she did feel splendid, at least at first.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray