magnanimous
Americanadjective
-
generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness.
to be magnanimous toward one's enemies.
- Synonyms:
- kindly, charitable, big
-
high-minded; noble.
a just and magnanimous ruler.
-
proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character, etc..
a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness.
adjective
Related Words
See noble.
Other Word Forms
- magnanimously adverb
- magnanimousness noun
- unmagnanimous adjective
- unmagnanimously adverb
- unmagnanimousness noun
Etymology
Origin of magnanimous
First recorded in 1540–60; from Latin magnanimus “great-souled,” equivalent to magn(us) “great” + anim(us) “spirit, soul, mind” + -us adjective suffix; magn-, -ous
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.
Napoleon could not have expected such magnanimous treatment from the British.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
The ugliness of the comment prompted Rick Wilson—former Republican strategist, he of the magnanimous Lincoln Project—to step forward.
From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026
Guardiola was probably being magnanimous due to his side's disappointing performance in the derby loss at Old Trafford.
From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026
We’re trying to be magnanimous here and express our appreciation for this best picture nomination and the four others you gave us.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2025
I would never have refused anyone who wanted to peek at my answers, I was magnanimous with my candy, and I wasn’t stuck-up.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
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.
