grandiose
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “grandiose” mean?
adjective.impressive and imposing in appearance or style, especially pretentiously so.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in passages discussing art, architecture, or ambitious plans, suggesting an exaggerated or ostentatious quality. It emphasizes a sense of over-the-top extravagance or self-importance, distinguishing it from similar words like "majestic," which conveys awe without the connotation of pretentiousness.
Common Confusions
Grandiose implies an excessive or pretentious grandeur, while magnificent usually suggests a natural impressiveness without the connotation of ostentation.
Do not choose grandiose if the context emphasizes simplicity or modesty rather than being impressive and imposing in appearance or style, especially pretentiously so.
Example Sentences
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His grandiose plans rarely matched his modest resources.