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
McTominay is capable of wondrous individual moments and is, unquestionably, one of the real stars of Serie A. The issue here is how good is Serie A?
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 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
He felt about genes the way grade-school kids might feel about Santa—genes are wondrous things, capable of delivering just about anything petitioners may desire.
From Slate ● Mar. 19, 2026
The shaky writing in the front of the book says, “For Ally—my wondrous girl! Love, Grandpa.”
From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
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.
