grandiose

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'grandiose' is an accepted and correctly spelled word in written English.
It is an adjective that can be used to describe something that is overly or excessively grand or impressive. For example, you could say "The bride's wedding dress was a grandiose gown made of silk and lace".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Telegraph's reviewer was less keen, dubbing it "implausible and grandiose".

The Guardian

At Thursday's semi-finals – sporting high-heels, butterfly eyelashes and a full beard – the drag queen was greeted with loud cheers, and the bookmakers are now predicting her grandiose ballad Rise Like a Phoenix could go for the win.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

As with many of Platini's grandiose schemes, the pan-continental vision for 2020 has split opinion.

The Guardian - Sport

But when he finally abandoned the defeated Sforza and fled Milan at the end of the 15th century he left behind only a grandiose clay model of the horse.

The Guardian - Arts

Their grandiose self-beliefs are built on foundations as solid as quicksand, hence the need for constant admiration and attention, shoring up their unstable sense of self.

The Guardian

Free Wi-Fi In between the seafront and the exclusive Cimiez neighbourhood up in the hills, the area around Nice's grandiose but crumbling Gare du Sud and its lively morning market is being redeveloped and one cultural centre stands out: a sumptuous turn-of-the-century mansion, closed-up for 15 years.

The Guardian - Travel

His grandiose self-assessments of the past were simply not coming to fruition".

The Guardian

The grandiose villa was built in 1878 as the summer residence of the director of Paris's Comic Opéra, and was only turned into an hotel in the 1920s.

The Guardian - Travel

It's a typically grandiose statement, but probably true.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It is difficult today to imagine Aquilea as a grandiose Roman city, until you step into the basilica, the whole of whose floor is taken up by fourth-century mosaics: the scenes of fishermen look little different from life in the casoni today.

The Guardian - Travel

His vocal support has prompted talk of grandiose projects for Jamkaran including a special rail link with Tehran, nearly 100 miles away.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grandiose" to describe plans, schemes, or projects that are overly ambitious and often impractical. It implies a sense of unrealistic scale or pomposity.

Common error

Avoid using "grandiose" to describe something merely beautiful or impressive. The word carries a connotation of being excessive, pretentious, or unrealistic. Use "majestic" or "magnificent" instead for simple grandeur.

Linguistic Context

Grandiose functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns, describing them as excessively grand or ambitious. Ludwig AI indicates the word is correctly spelled and accepted in written English. The sources and examples from Ludwig confirm its adjectival role, showing it modifies nouns like 'schemes', 'plans', and 'buildings'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grandiose" is an adjective used to describe something excessively grand or ambitious, often carrying a negative connotation of impracticality or pretentiousness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. The examples from Ludwig show it appearing frequently in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, demonstrating its role in critically evaluating overblown plans and schemes. It's essential to avoid misusing it for simple grandeur; instead, reserve it for situations where excessiveness is implied. Related phrases like "pompous" and "pretentious" capture aspects of its meaning, while alternatives like "magnificent" should be used in contexts that need to denote grandeur that is celebrated and not looked down upon. Thus, understanding the nuances of "grandiose" empowers writers to convey criticism of inflated ambitions with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

magnificent

Implies impressive beauty and scale, similar to "grandiose" but without the negative connotation of being excessive or pretentious.

pompous

Highlights the pretentiousness and self-importance associated with "grandiose", focusing on the boastful aspect.

ostentatious

Emphasizes the showy and extravagant nature of something, akin to the excessive display implied by "grandiose".

pretentious

Focuses on the affected or artificial quality of something that is trying to appear more important or impressive than it actually is, a key aspect of "grandiose".

imposing

Stresses the impressive and awe-inspiring quality of something large or significant, similar to the size and scope aspect of "grandiose".

theatrical

Suggests something exaggerated and dramatic, like a "grandiose" performance or display.

over the top

Indicates something excessive and beyond what is considered appropriate or tasteful, aligning with the exaggerated nature of "grandiose".

ambitious

While not always negative, it can highlight the overly ambitious aspect of a "grandiose" plan or project.

majestic

Implies grandeur and stateliness, sharing the impressiveness of "grandiose" but often lacking the negative connotation.

epic

Describes something large in scale and ambitious in scope, similar to the size aspect of "grandiose".

FAQs

How can I use "grandiose" in a sentence?

You can use "grandiose" to describe something that is excessively grand or ambitious, often to the point of being impractical or showy. For example: "The politician's plan for urban renewal was considered "grandiose" and unrealistic".

What is a good synonym for "grandiose"?

Depending on the context, good synonyms for "grandiose" include "magnificent", "ostentatious", "pompous", or "pretentious".

Is it always negative to describe something as "grandiose"?

Yes, using the term "grandiose" typically carries a negative connotation. It suggests that something is not only large or impressive but also excessively so, often implying impracticality or an attempt to impress rather than genuine quality.

What is the difference between "grandiose" and "grand"?

"Grand" simply means impressive or large in scale, generally in a positive or neutral way. "Grandiose", on the other hand, implies that something is not just grand but excessively so, often suggesting pretentiousness or an unrealistic nature. "Grand" is celebratory, while "grandiose" is usually critical.