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Synonyms

greatness

American  
[greyt-nis] / ˈgreɪt nɪs /

noun

  1. the quality or state of being important, notable, or distinguished.

    The goal is to inspire students to achieve greatness by taking risks, working hard, and pushing their limits.

    The town is considered an important historical landmark, and is known primarily for its architectural greatness and venerable history.

  2. the quality or state of being powerful or intense.

    Those who are deemed incurable by reason of the greatness of their crimes are banished and never allowed to return.

  3. the quality or state of being large in size, stature, number, etc..

    The ancient stone walls, towering close to 200 feet high, impress with their greatness.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of greatness

great ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.

See Examples For:

And with a quarter-final against Norway on Saturday, there could be more goals to cement his greatness.

From BBC Jul. 11, 2026

There is skill, and there is craft, and the difference between the two is contentment with proficiency versus an unsettled desire to create greatness out of nothing, to chase a dream.

From Salon Jun. 28, 2026

Typically, the messaging about the sporting event spotlighting the country’s greatness comes from the top down.

From Slate Jun. 25, 2026

Better that they didn’t recognize the mellow greatness of OG Anunoby, the most underrated talent in the game.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 14, 2026

Thus, we often see princes given horses, arms, and vestments of gold cloth, precious stones, and similar ornaments suited to their greatness.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

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