majestic

adjective

mə-ˈje-stik How to pronounce majestic (audio)
Definition of majesticnext
1
as in graceful
having or showing elegance a majestic pillar of society who continues to entertain in grand style

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in magnificent
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception a majestic Egyptian pyramid that has enthralled travelers for aeons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in eloquent
very dignified in form, tone, or style the majestic language and beautiful cadences of the King James Version of the Bible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective majestic differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of majestic are grandiose, grand, imposing, magnificent, and stately. While all these words mean "large and impressive," majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.

a majestic waterfall

When could grand be used to replace majestic?

Although the words grand and majestic have much in common, grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.

a grand staircase

In what contexts can grandiose take the place of majestic?

The words grandiose and majestic can be used in similar contexts, but grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience, but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration.

grandiose hydroelectric projects
grandiose schemes

When is it sensible to use imposing instead of majestic?

The words imposing and majestic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.

an imposing edifice

When can magnificent be used instead of majestic?

While in some cases nearly identical to majestic, magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste.

magnificent paintings

Where would stately be a reasonable alternative to majestic?

While the synonyms stately and majestic are close in meaning, stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.

the stately procession

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of majestic Like the master of ceremonies of a traveling act introducing the world’s greatest spectacle to a wide-eyed audience, Lockton set the tone of each landing with backstory, history, and color that made even this majestic backdrop surrounding us seem flat without her accompanying narration. — Nicole Edenedo, AFAR Media, 3 Mar. 2025 The dark chaos of Keef’s beats are obvious, but the Indianapolis producer extracts what’s also really majestic and pretty about them, and the anarchic maximalism of Back From the Dead 2 feels like his main inspiration. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 28 Feb. 2025 But for first-time visitors, nothing quite beats the thrill of skiing in Zermatt with the Matterhorn’s majestic silhouette as your backdrop. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 Somewhere in the middle of the show, there’s its crown jewel: the majestic, 20-foot-long 9.11.01 (2006), in which a gigantic black triangle emerges from a white ground, sending out plumes of smoke on either side. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for majestic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for majestic
  1. graceful
  2. magnificent
  3. eloquent
  4. handsome
  5. glorious
  6. formal
  7. elegant
  8. epic
Adjective
  • Roan often wears her hair down in soft red ringlets letting her bangs fall loose for a naturally graceful, modern look.
    — Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
  • He’s built like a wrestler, but graceful, too, an experienced kickboxer with a trademark, face-smashing spinning back-kick.
    — John DeVore, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of graceful
Adjective
  • All of the magnificent seven tech stocks are down today on the tariffs news.
    — Ece Yildirim, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Adebayo was stupendous early; Herro was magnificent in the second half.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of magnificent
Adjective
  • Many northern journalists and editorial boards cast civil rights protests in their own cities as dangerous and extreme, even when it was called out in the eloquent tones of Martin Luther King Jr. himself.
    — Made by History, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, has been an eloquent exponent of this general view.
    — Dylan Matthews, Vox, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of eloquent
Adjective
  • The actor, who died Tuesday at age 65, was movie-star handsome at 46.
    — Marco della Cava, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Comments The handsome, prickly, and soulful Val Kilmer died from pneumonia on Tuesday after an 11-year struggle with throat cancer.
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of handsome
Adjective
  • From a glorious span that included winning the 2013 MLS Cup and eight straight postseason appearances, Peter Vermes’ Sporting KC club hadn’t finished higher than eighth in the league standings since 2021.
    — Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The Frick Collection celebrated its reopening Monday night with a black tie gala befitting its glorious surroundings.
    — Bettina Zilkha, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of glorious
Adjective
  • The family posed for Christmas photos in matching red formal wear and themed elf onesies in 2023, when Alcala was pregnant with Alianna.
    — Nasha Smith, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Executives who once retired at 60 are now pursuing encore careers or taking on advisory roles that keep them engaged without occupying formal posts.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Many reviews praised Fitzgerald’s elegant prose but dismissed the book’s literary significance.
    — Nick Woltman, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
  • However, Rosewood Baha Mar is arguably the most elegant, drawing a more discerning and spendy crowd.
    — Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • The Panthers eliminated his Bruins from the playoffs each of the past two seasons, first in an epic seven-game series to open the 2023 playoffs to begin a magical run to the Cup Final and then in six games last season in Round 2 on the way to winning their first Cup.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The Lakers star then posted an epic troll about Smith on social media, sparking Smith to respond.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of epic

Browse Nearby Words

maîtres d'hôtel
majestic
majestically
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Majestic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/majestic. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on majestic

Nglish: Translation of majestic for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All