grandiose

American  

[gran-dee-ohs, gran-dee-ohs] / ˈgræn diˌoʊs, ˌgræn diˈoʊs /

adjective

1. 

   affectedly grand or important; pompous.

   grandiose words.

   Synonyms:

   extravagant, high-flown, splashy, flamboyant, affected, pretentious

2. more complicated or elaborate than necessary; overblown.

   a grandiose scheme.

3. grand in an imposing or impressive way.

4. Psychiatry. having an exaggerated belief in one's importance, sometimes reaching delusional proportions, and occurring as a common symptom of mental illnesses, as manic disorder.

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grandiose British  

/ ˈɡrændɪˌəʊs /

adjective

1. pretentiously grand or stately

2. imposing in conception or execution

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Synonym Usage

Grandiose, showy, ostentatious, pretentious all refer to conspicuous outward display, either designed to attract attention or likely to do so. Grandiose and showy are alike in that they may suggest impressiveness that is not objectionable: the grandiose sweep of the arch; a fresh bouquet of showy zinnias. Grandiose, however, most often implies inflation or exaggeration to the point of absurdity: grandiose, impractical plans; a ridiculously grandiose manner. Showy sometimes suggests a meretricious gaudiness or flashiness: a showy taste in dress. Ostentatious, which refers to behavior or manner clearly designed to impress, also has negative connotations: an ostentatious display of wealth; an assumption of superiority too ostentatious to be ignored. Pretentious, like the preceding term, is always derogatory, implying falseness or exaggeration in claims made or implied: natural and straightforward, not pretentious; pretentious language designed to mask the absence of real content.

Other Word Forms

• grandioseness
  noun
• grandiosity
  noun
• grandiosely
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of grandiose

First recorded in 1830–40; from French, from Italian grandioso, from Latin grandi(s) “grand” + -ōsus adjective suffix ( see -ose ¹)

Explanation

You've got big plans. Huge plans. Whatever it is, it's going to blow minds and absolutely rock worlds! Well, to some people those plans might sound a bit grandiose, or unnecessarily overblown and even highfalutin. Coming from the Italian word grandioso (meaning "grand" or "noble"), the adjective grandiose is kind of like Italian hand gestures: big, exaggerated, and over the top. And it's that excessiveness that pushes something grand (large, with an air of distinction) into grandiose (large, but trying too hard) territory.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grandiose

Will his crew see this grandiose conspiracy through, despite their shifty partners and some last-minute catastrophes?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

The city is grandiose enough that there are even ways for filmmakers to put their own spin on its more conventional sights and sounds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Marsch is known for grandiose comments - exaggerated and emotional statements delivered to provide maximum impact.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Now under intense public scrutiny, Marx has dialed back some of his more grandiose claims.

From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026

However grandiose some of our individual ambitions may have been, nobody on Hall’s team ever really considered going for the summit without bottled oxygen.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• ambitious
• bombastic
• flamboyant
• grand
• imposing
• lofty
• magnificent
• monumental
• noble
• pompous
• pretentious
• showy
• splashy