grandiosity

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'grandiosity' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'grandiosity' to describe someone who has an exaggerated sense of superiority, power, or importance. For example, "The grandiosity of his ego was apparent in his every move."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Thursday night, Santorum accused him of "grandiosity"; Gingrich said, "This is a grandiose country of big people doing big things").

The New Yorker

A five minute video of breathtaking grandiosity followed, with a deep-voiced narrator starting off slowly and gruffly before speeding up into something like a mild ecstasy at the notion of launching Ben Carson into the White House instead of the sun.

The Guardian - Opinion

It compared them with the grandiosity of Stalin and Mussolini.

The Guardian - Opinion

In narcissism, an inflated grandiosity is repeatedly punctured by an unbending reality.

The Guardian

Compared to such grandiosity, the People's Horse Breeder, who happens to be a former dentist (the "People's Dentist"?) has so far proved the soul of restraint.

The Guardian - Opinion

Narcissism is characterised by a kind of grandiosity or "bigging yourself up" - as we've seen Ziggy do countless times, probably to hide a low self esteem, as well as a failure to empathise with others (think duck).

The Guardian

The latest case of grandiosity involves the construction of what the president's website boasts will be "central Asia's largest theatre".

The Guardian

Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pervasive grandiosity, an extreme desire for attention, a sense of entitlement, a willingness to exploit or mistreat others, an excessive need for admiration and a lack of empathy.

The Guardian

The newspaper's longtime owners, the Graham family, may never have rivalled Hearst for grandiosity: no private zoo for them, or egging America into a small war with Spain, as Hearst once did.

The Economist

He shares the scene with a more dynamic figure, a young dwarf whose apple and rattle parody the appurtenances of kingship and who lessens the scene's grandiosity.

The Economist

There was a receptive audience for the Freudian idea that repressed self-hatred could lead to self-absorption, grandiosity and shallowness in individuals, and for the notion that this personality disorder could somehow be reflected in the spirit of a wealthy, coddled and self-indulgent age.For Sigmund Freud, there was a good sort of narcissism, at least in early life, and a bad sort.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grandiosity" to precisely describe an inflated sense of self-importance, often associated with narcissism or mania. It conveys a more clinical and less colloquial meaning than simple pride.

Common error

Avoid using "grandiosity" when simply describing confidence or ambition. "Grandiosity" implies an unrealistic and often delusional sense of superiority, not just healthy self-assurance.

Linguistic Context

"Grandiosity" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the state or quality of being grandiose. It often appears as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a characteristic or attribute. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grandiosity" is a noun that describes an inflated sense of self-importance or exaggerated belief in one's abilities. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media and encyclopedia articles. It's often associated with narcissism, mania, or delusional thinking, and its usage spans from describing personality traits to critiquing architectural designs. While similar to terms like "hubris" and "megalomania", "grandiosity" carries a more specific connotation of an unrealistic and often pathological sense of superiority. Therefore, it's important to use the term precisely to avoid misrepresenting simple confidence or ambition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exaggerated self-importance

Focuses on the inflated sense of one's own significance.

inflated ego

Highlights the overly high opinion of oneself.

pompousness

Emphasizes the display of excessive self-importance.

pretentiousness

Focuses on the act of claiming unwarranted distinction or merit.

affectation

Highlights artificial behavior designed to impress.

vainglory

Implies excessive pride in one's achievements or qualities.

megalomania

Suggests delusions of grandeur and an obsession with power.

hubris

Indicates excessive pride or self-confidence leading to downfall.

superiority complex

Highlights the belief that one is better than others.

delusions of grandeur

Refers to false or exaggerated beliefs about one's importance or identity.

FAQs

How to use "grandiosity" in a sentence?

You can use "grandiosity" to describe someone's inflated sense of self-importance or exaggerated belief in their own abilities. For example, "His "grandiosity" was evident in his extravagant claims and unrealistic plans."

What are some synonyms for "grandiosity"?

Some synonyms for "grandiosity" include "exaggerated self-importance", "inflated ego", and "megalomania", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "grandiosity" a positive or negative trait?

"Grandiosity" is generally considered a negative trait, often associated with mental health conditions like narcissistic personality disorder and bipolar disorder. It implies an unrealistic and often damaging sense of self-importance.

What is the difference between "grandiosity" and "hubris"?

While both terms involve excessive pride, "grandiosity" often suggests a more unrealistic and delusional sense of self-importance, whereas "hubris" typically refers to excessive pride that leads to a downfall.