magnificent
[mag-nif-uh-suh nt]
- making a splendid appearance or show; of exceptional beauty, size, etc.: a magnificent cathedral; magnificent scenery.
- extraordinarily fine; superb: a magnificent opportunity; magnificent weather.
- noble; sublime: a magnificent poem.
- (usually initial capital letter) (formerly used as a title of some rulers) great; grand: Lorenzo the Magnificent.
- lavishly munificent; extravagant: a magnificent inheritance.
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Origin of magnificent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for magnificent on Thesaurus.com1. majestic, sumptuous, opulent; exquisite, sublime.
Synonym study
1. Magnificent, gorgeous, splendid, superb are terms of high admiration and all are used informally in weak exaggeration. Something that is magnificent is beautiful, princely, grand, or ostentatious: a magnificent display of paintings; a magnificent view of the harbor. That which is gorgeous moves one to admiration by the richness and (often colorful) variety of its effects: a gorgeous array of handsome gifts. That which is splendid is dazzling or impressive in its brilliance, radiance, or excellence: splendid jewels; a splendid body of scholars. That which is superb is above others in, or is of the highest degree of, excellence, elegance, or (less often, today) grandeur: a superb concert; superb wines.
Antonyms
1. modest; poor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for magnificent
Contemporary Examples
Prince George and his parents are enjoying their first Christmas in their magnificent country home.
You were thrilled to see this magnificent woman break out of this one horse town.
And, most of all, thank you federal, state, and local governments for magnificent public school systems.
The magnificent Murray: Murray has been forgotten in Baltimore, but deserves to be remembered.
When I asked what this train would cost, the magnificent Murray waved me away.
Historical Examples
If he should do so, the law would compel him to return her magnificent dowry.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
Solomon, the Wise, decided to provide them with a magnificent home.
Ancient ManHendrik Willem van Loon
For the first six miles over most magnificent grassed country.
Explorations in AustraliaJohn Forrest
To gaze at me the field-workers suspend the magnificent lethargy of their labors.
Ballads of a BohemianRobert W. Service
She was certainly, for one so young and so unprofessional, a magnificent reader.
Ester Ried Yet SpeakingIsabella Alden
magnificent
- splendid or impressive in appearance
- superb or very fine
- (esp of ideas) noble or elevated
- archaic great or exalted in rank or action
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin magnificentio more splendid; irregular comparative of magnificus great in deeds; see magnific
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for magnificent
adj.
mid-15c., from Old French magnificent, a back-formation from Latin magnificentior, comparative of magnificus "great, elevated, noble, distinguished," literally "doing great deeds" (see magnificence).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper