If you describe something as grandiose, you mean it is bigger or more elaborate than necessary.
[disapproval]
Not one of Kim's grandiose plans has even begun.
Synonyms: pretentious, ambitious, extravagant, flamboyant More Synonyms of grandiose
More Synonyms of grandiose
grandiose in British English
(ˈɡrændɪˌəʊs)
adjective
1.
pretentiously grand or stately
2.
imposing in conception or execution
Derived forms
grandiosely (ˈgrandiˌosely)
adverb
grandiosity (ˌɡrændɪˈɒsɪtɪ) or grandioseness (ˌgrandiˈoseness)
noun
Word origin
C19: from French, from Italian grandioso, from grande great; see grand
grandiose in American English
(ˈgrændiˌoʊs; ˌ grændiˈoʊs; also, ˌgrændiˌoʊz)
adjective
1.
having grandeur or magnificence; imposing; impressive
2.
seeming or trying to seem very important; pompous and showy
SIMILAR WORDS: grand
Derived forms
grandiosely (ˈgrandiˌosely)
adverb
grandiosity (ˌgrandiˈosity) (ˌgrændiˈɑsəti)
noun
Word origin
Fr < It grandioso < L grandis, great, grand
Examples of 'grandiose' in a sentence
grandiose
There is no other club that make such grandiose claims.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
What does he feel now about this grandiose project?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Spending on grandiose public works schemes was largely wasted.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There are still many obstacles in the way of such grandiose dreams.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That would be a grandiose political project obscuring a kernel of wisdom.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is time to do so now before the sunk costs of a grandiose scheme expand further.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But disaster only inspires them to more grandiose schemes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Other winners have less grandiose ambitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It seemed a rather grandiose claim.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This sounds such a grandiose claim, but the show does change lives.
The Sun (2014)
Entrepreneurs are often so dazzled by imaginings of their own brilliance that they forget to look at history and reality becomes distorted by grandiose dreams.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He would just have dropped out of historical remembrance, as grandiose claims and exciting hopes proved to be empty.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Others make more grandiose claims.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
What we need is a more imaginative monetary policy directed at clearing that debt, not grandiose government projects that will add to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
With the cost of the project rising, The owners are considering scaling down the grandiose plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But there seems absolutely no reason why British taxpayers should implicitly underwrite his grandiose and high-risk plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Keep hopes and dreams attainable, as grandiose schemes could dent your confidence if they don't pan out.
The Sun (2015)
The oil money has led to investment in grandiose road schemes (not just those roundabouts) and other infrastructure.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He seemed to be no more than a small-town accountant with big ideas, an exile from his tragic homeland and full of grandiose dreams of revolution.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
grandiose
British English: grandiose ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as grandiose, you mean it is bigger or more elaborate than necessary.
Not one of his grandiose plans has even begun.
American English: grandiose
Brazilian Portuguese: grandioso
Chinese: 华而不实的
European Spanish: grandioso
French: grandiose
German: grandios
Italian: grandioso
Japanese: 大げさな
Korean: 거창한
European Portuguese: grandioso
Latin American Spanish: grandioso
Chinese translation of 'grandiose'
grandiose
(ˈɡrændɪəus)
adj
浮夸的 (fúkuā de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
impressive, or meant to impress
Not one of his grandiose plans has ever come to anything.
Synonyms
pretentious
He talked a lot of pretentious twaddle about modern art.
ambitious
Their goal was extraordinarily ambitious.
extravagant
The couple wed in extravagant style.
flamboyant
flamboyant architectural paint effects
high-flown
Many personnel were put off by such high-flown rhetoric.
pompous
What a pompous little man he is.
showy
They were smart but not showy.
ostentatious
the ostentatious lifestyle of the super-rich
bombastic
the bombastic style of his oratory
Opposites
down-to-earth
,
unpretentious
2 (adjective)
Definition
impressive, or meant to impress
the grandiose building which housed the mayor's offices
Synonyms
imposing
An imposing figure loomed over me.
grand
a grand building in the centre of town
impressive
magnificent
a magnificent country house in wooded grounds
majestic
a majestic country home
stately
Instead of moving at his usual stately pace, he was almost running.