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

“I’ve never been in a city that feels like L.A., that has the vibe of L.A., that has the visual splendor and squalor,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Mr. Stevens, known to American audiences for playing Matthew Crawley in “Downton Abbey,” has a supple, sensitive delivery that sustains a sense of epic splendor while bringing out the relatable aspects of Homer’s tale.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

More than 400 years later, and 250 since this nation’s founding, our “New World” doesn’t seem so new, having grown old through centuries of terror and splendor alike.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

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

From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026

I close my eyes again as my fingers reach to brush the closest fragments of the splendor.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Encouraging us to shift our gaze from the wall to our devices — to assume that accursed downward tilt of the neck when splendors abound before our eyes — is simply detrimental.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

Mr. Gennari, who grew up in Lenox—a little too late for the splendors of Music Inn, except as a point of community pride—is perfectly equipped to tell this tale.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025

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

From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2025

Crucially, his fascination with the horrors and splendors of the world runs neck and neck with his skepticism.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 13, 2023

The untamed flora and fauna of the North American continent, the minerals and other splendors of the world beneath their feet.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

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