wondrous
Americanadjective
adverb
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wondrous
1490–1500; metathetic variant of Middle English wonders (genitive of wonder ) wonderful; cognate with German Wunders; spelling conformed to -ous
Explanation
The adjective wondrous is a great word to use when you're describing something amazing or delightful. You could talk about the wondrous view of the ocean from the cliffs where you're standing. There's a hint of magic and awe about the word wondrous. It describes things that inspire wonder, like a wondrous imaginary land or a wondrous display of beautiful, elaborate cakes at a pastry shop. The root is the Old English wundor, "marvelous thing, or object of astonishment." Wondrous is tricky to spell because it's missing the e in wonder.
Vocabulary lists containing wondrous
"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
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100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
Americans deserve a National Museum of American History that expresses a love of that history and views it as the wondrous story of a nation conceived in liberty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
In the immediacy of Disney, it sunk in as wondrous reflection on Donne’s line: “Though I speed not, I cannot miss.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
“We’ve come to the conclusion to take our anchovies offline for the summer as shipping them in the summertime heat drastically impacts their wondrous quality.”
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
In a season of such wondrous unpredictability, there's been a certain sameness about what Hearts have been doing.
From BBC ● May 9, 2026
Her heart thrilled to see these wondrous oxen of the north.
From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George
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.
