Shake·spear·ean
shāk-ˈspir-ē-ən 
variants
or Shakespearian
or less commonly Shaksperean
or Shaksperian
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of Shakespeare or his writings
2
: evocative of a theme, setting, or event from a work of Shakespeare
Shakespearean pageantry
variants
or Shakespearian
or less commonly Shaksperean
or Shaksperian
: an authority on or devotee of Shakespeare
Examples of Shakespearean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Kenneth Branagh, the Shakespearean wiz of my dreams, brings that passionate theatricality to this piece, and steers the ship with dramatic heft and kinetic electricity.
—Betty Gabriel, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
Hiroyuki Sanada has lived a thousand lives in show business: child performer, action star, Shakespearean Fool, Hollywood actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Jidaigeki Japanese is like our version of Shakespearean English.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Laurence Olivier Legendary Shakespearean thespian Sir Laurence Olivier also received eight BAFTA nominations for his acting career.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2024
For those of us who loved this actor’s work, there was a particular poignancy to see words fail him for once, this actor of Shakespearean grandiloquence, tamping down his natural gift for language to express a deeper, more sorrowful truth.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023
Who among us would enjoy showing up to work after being demoted, knowing all the colleagues who voted to strip away our dream job?
Shakespearean?
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
There is, of course, our old friend Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), leader of the Autobots, who transforms out of a cool red Freightliner semi-truck and issues his commands in a voice that’s noble, stentorian, maybe even a dash Shakespearean.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 June 2023
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Noun
Save for Adam Driver’s Shakespearean gusto as an architect at once mercurial and magical, Coppola has little control over performances that veer toward the cartoonish, and the digital effects have a screensaver chintziness that’s missing the lushness of his best work.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Kenneth Branagh, the Shakespearean wiz of my dreams, brings that passionate theatricality to this piece, and steers the ship with dramatic heft and kinetic electricity.
—Betty Gabriel, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
Hiroyuki Sanada has lived a thousand lives in show business: child performer, action star, Shakespearean Fool, Hollywood actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Jidaigeki Japanese is like our version of Shakespearean English.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Laurence Olivier Legendary Shakespearean thespian Sir Laurence Olivier also received eight BAFTA nominations for his acting career.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2024
For those of us who loved this actor’s work, there was a particular poignancy to see words fail him for once, this actor of Shakespearean grandiloquence, tamping down his natural gift for language to express a deeper, more sorrowful truth.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023
Who among us would enjoy showing up to work after being demoted, knowing all the colleagues who voted to strip away our dream job?
Shakespearean?
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
There is, of course, our old friend Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), leader of the Autobots, who transforms out of a cool red Freightliner semi-truck and issues his commands in a voice that’s noble, stentorian, maybe even a dash Shakespearean.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 June 2023
Dictionary Entries Near Shakespearean
Cite this Entry
“Shakespearean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shakespearean. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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