marvelous
Americanadjective
-
superb; excellent; great.
a marvelous show.
- Synonyms:
- wonderful
- Antonyms:
- terrible
-
such as to cause wonder, admiration, or astonishment; surprising; extraordinary.
- Synonyms:
- miraculous, amazing, wondrous
- Antonyms:
- commonplace
-
improbable or incredible.
the marvelous events of Greek myth.
- Synonyms:
- unbelievable
Usage
What does marvelous mean? Marvelous means wonderful, extraordinary, fabulous, superb, excellent. In this sense, it is often used to praise things like works of art and artistic performances. Marvelous is the adjective form of the noun marvel, which most commonly means a thing that causes wonder. Marvelous can mean causing wonder, as well as improbable, but both of these senses are much less common than its primary meaning of “wonderful.”In British English, it is commonly spelled marvellous. Example: That was absolutely marvelous! What a wonderful show! Bravo!
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of marvelous
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English merve(il)lous, from Middle French merveilleus; equivalent to marvel + -ous
Explanation
Something marvelous is unusual, wonderful, and almost miraculous. Finding a bag of gold would be marvelous by any standard. Something that's decent or even simply good isn't marvelous. A marvelous thing needs to be really stunning, exceptional, or hard to believe. Marvelous things make people marvel at them — they're amazing and a little shocking, like a miracle. Winning the lottery would be marvelous. Finding out that ice cream is actually good for you would be marvelous. And if you want to make someone feel extra nice, tell them their new hat looks marvelous.
Vocabulary lists containing marvelous
Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"
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Wow! Synonyms for "Amazing"
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
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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.
For decades her company has run tours for “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” in New York where, she says, the proximity of the locations makes it much easier.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
Appeared in the April 25, 2026, print edition as 'A Movie’s Marvelous Music'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
“Hacks” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” successfully fictionalize such frustrations, as the tribute acknowledges by opening with “Hacks” star Jean Smart’s pre-recorded reflections on the late comedian’s influence.
From Salon • May 14, 2025
Lupe, who also starred in “Succession” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” adds that certain concerns she had about working while pregnant, such as gaining weight on camera, disappeared when she was on set.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2024
“Act Three of The Marvelous Marriage by Al Funcoot is about to begin!” a man with a clipboard shouted.
From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket
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.
