grandiose

Definitions

grand (great) + -iose (full of, abounding in) = 'full of greatness.' But greatness piled on too thickly reads as showing off — so grandiose slid from 'genuinely impressive' toward 'so big and flashy it's pretentious.' Both senses survive: a grandiose cathedral can awe you, while grandiose promises make you roll your eyes.

Why It Means This

Grandiose is grandeur with the volume turned up too high. The word almost always hints at a gap between the show and the substance — grand on the outside, hollow or overreaching on the inside. That faint mockery is why you praise a building's grandeur but criticize someone's grandiose ambitions.

Common Collocations

• 1.grandiose plans宏大的计划
• 2.grandiose scheme浮夸的方案
• 3.grandiose claims夸大的言论
• 4.grandiose ideas好高骛远的想法
• 5.grandiose gesture夸张的姿态

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The architect unveiled a grandiose plan to rebuild the entire waterfront.

• 2.

  His grandiose claims about the product turned out to be empty hype.

• 3.

  The palace was decorated in a grandiose style that bordered on excess.

Easily Confused

grandiose vs grand — grand is neutral admiration (a grand hall, a grand occasion). grandiose almost always tilts negative: too grand, pretentious. If you mean a real compliment, use grand or magnificent; grandiose quietly mocks.