splendor

American  

[splen-der] / ˈsplɛn dər /

especially British, splendour

noun

• splendors
  plural

1. brilliant or gorgeous appearance, coloring, etc.; magnificence.

   the splendor of the palace.

   Synonyms:

   dash, show

   Antonyms:

   squalor

2. an instance or display of imposing pomp or grandeur.

   the splendor of the coronation.

3. grandeur; glory; brilliant distinction.

   the splendor of ancient Greek architecture.

   Synonyms:

   celebrity, renown, eminence, fame

4. great brightness; brilliant light or luster.

   Synonyms:

   refulgence, dazzle

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verb (used with object)

1. to make splendid by decorating lavishly; adorn.

verb (used without object)

1. to move or proceed with splendor, grandeur, or pomp.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outsplendor
  verb (used with object)
• splendorous
  adjective
• splendrous
  adjective
• unsplendorous
  adjective
• unsplendorously
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• splendors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of splendor

1400–50; < Latin splendor, equivalent to splend ( ēre ) to shine + -or -or ¹; replacing late Middle English splendure < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Explanation

The noun splendor refers to something that is magnificent or grand. If your prom was held in a luxurious ballroom with elegant decor, you might note the splendor of the setting. The noun splendor has its roots in the Latin word splendere, which means bright. Splendid, splendiferous, and resplendent are all related adjectives used to describe grand, magnificent, and brilliant things. Splendor usually has the connotation of luxury or quality, as in "the splendor of Balmoral castle," or "the splendor of the view at the Grand Canyon."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

splendor splendors

The airy set, by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, evokes the mouth-watering, gauzy splendor of the houses in Nancy Meyers movies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

As if these athletes are somehow the pinnacle of military splendor.

From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026

Nathaniel Dance, whose style was influenced by studies in Rome, depicted Frederick, Lord North—the prime minister who bungled America policy on the king’s behalf—in double-chinned, robes-of-state splendor in 1773-74.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

That began with the shocked roar that met Rush’s first number, 1977’s “Xanadu,” a chugging slab of custom-van-tested shag splendor, akin to kicking off a trick show with the most dangerous stunt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

“Adiah was able to take that volume of splendor into her body nearly a hundred years ago, during the Bonding, when it rose to the earths surface in a greater magnitude than usual,” she said.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Even more splendors open up if you time your trip right.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

There’s just one hitch: Though Mossbrae Falls sits less than 2,000 feet from Dunsmuir city limits, there is no easy — or legal — way for the public to access its watery splendors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2025

"Goodly splendors await upon your victory. Love, Mr. Milchick."

From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2025

Like “My Brilliant Friend” and “Gomorrah,” “The Sea Beyond” exploits the Neapolitan sun, water and sky for maximum pictorial effect, and it wraps itself in the city’s architectural and scenic splendors.

From New York Times ● Oct. 16, 2023

Italy will return to the splendors of Rome, said the major.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

Related Words

• brilliance
• grandeur
• luster
• magnificence
• majesty
• pomp
• richness