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Synonyms

imposing

American  
[im-poh-zing] / ɪmˈpoʊ zɪŋ /

adjective

  1. very impressive because of great size, stately appearance, dignity, elegance, etc..

    Notre Dame, Rheims, and other imposing cathedrals of France.
    Synonyms:
    august, grand, lofty, majestic, dignified
imposing British  
/ ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ /

adjective

  1. grand or impressive

    an imposing building
"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

Other Word Forms

  • imposingly adverb
  • imposingness noun

Etymology

Origin of imposing

First recorded in 1645–55; impose + -ing 2

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.

There were consistent reservations about Frank's tactical approach, too: concerns he was not assertive enough in matches and was too focused on adapting to the opposition rather than imposing Spurs' own strengths.

From BBC

Behind her were two 20-tonne narrowboats waiting to be rescued by an imposing winch machine in a nearby field with the help of a specialist excavator.

From Barron's

But Madrid's imposing Victory Arch, built in the 1950s on a busy roundabout to celebrate the victory of Franco's fascist-backed nationalists in the 1936-1939 civil war, is a standout example of the symbols that linger.

From Barron's

The EPA acknowledged this concern as real but said that by imposing certain restrictions, such as reducing the amount used and avoiding application in higher temperatures, it was safe.

From Barron's

The answer isn’t limiting speech or imposing impossible obligations on social-media companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.