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Synonyms of 'great'

great

Explore 'great' in the dictionary
1 (adjective) 
Definition
large in number or amount
a great hall as long and high as a church
Synonyms
large
He was a large man with a thick square head.
big
Australia's a big country.
huge
Several painters were working on a huge piece of canvas.
vast
farmers who own vast stretches of land
enormous
an enormous dust cloud blocking out the sun
extensive
The blast caused extensive damage.
tremendous
I felt a tremendous pressure on my chest.
immense
an immense cloud of smoke
gigantic
The road is bordered by gigantic rocks.
mammoth
The mammoth undertaking was completed in 18 months.
bulky
a bulky man with balding hair
colossal
A colossal statue stands in the square.
The task they face is colossal.
prodigious
stupendous
a stupendous amount of money
voluminous
She was swathed in a voluminous cloak.
elephantine
His legs were elephantine.
ginormous (informal)
humongous or humungous (informal)
GR8 (text messaging)
supersize
Opposites
little
,
small
,
diminutive
2 (adjective) 
Definition
extreme or more than usual
I'll take great care of it.That must have taken a great effort on his part.
Synonyms
extreme
people living in extreme poverty
considerable
We have already spent a considerable amount of money on repairs.
excessive
The length of the prison sentence was excessive considering the nature of the crime.
high
Officials said casualties were high.
decided
pronounced
extravagant
I was extravagant in my admiration of them.
prodigious
inordinate
They spent an inordinate amount of time talking.
GR8 (text messaging)
3 (adjective) 
Definition
of importance or consequence
the great cultural achievements of the past
Synonyms
major
We heard extracts from three of his major works.
lead
Cossiga's reaction is the lead story in the Italian press.
leading
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
chief
Financial stress is acknowledged as a chief reason for divorce.
The job went to one of his chief rivals.
main
My main concern now is to protect the children.
capital
grand
the federal grand jury
primary
His primary aim in life is to be happy.
principal
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
prominent
superior
paramount
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
big-time (informal)
major league (informal)
GR8 (text messaging)
4 (adjective) 
his pronouncements on the great political matters of the age
Synonyms
important
an important economic challenge to the government
serious
I regard this as a serious matter.
significant
It is the first drug that seems to have a significant effect on this disease.
critical
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
crucial (informal)
the most crucial election campaign in years
heavy
I don't want any more of that heavy stuff.
grave
He says the situation in his country is very grave.
momentous
the momentous decision to send in the troops
weighty
Surely such weighty matters merit a higher level of debate?
consequential
From a medical standpoint, a week is usually not a consequential delay.
GR8 (text messaging)
Opposites
petty
,
trivial
,
insignificant
,
unimportant
,
inconsequential
,
inconsiderable
5 (adjective) 
the great American president, Abraham Lincoln
Synonyms
famous
England's most famous landscape artist, John Constable
celebrated
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.
outstanding
an outstanding tennis player
excellent
remarkable
He was a remarkable man.
distinguished
a distinguished academic family
prominent
a prominent member of the Law Society
glorious
He had a glorious career spanning more than six decades.
notable
the notable occultist, Madame Blavatsky
renowned
The area is renowned for its churches.
eminent
an eminent public figure
famed
The city is famed for its outdoor restaurants.
illustrious
the most illustrious scientists of the century
exalted
noteworthy
None of these buildings are noteworthy for their architecture.
GR8 (text messaging)
6 (adjective) 
Definition
skilful
He was one of the West Indies' greatest cricketers.
Synonyms
expert
The faces of the waxworks are modelled by expert sculptors.
skilled
skilled workers, such as plumbers
talented
He is a talented pianist.
skilful
his skilful use of light and shade
good
He is very good at his job.
able
They are bright, intelligent, able and confident.
masterly
They gave a masterly performance.
crack (slang)
superb
world-class
He was determined to become a world-class tennis player.
adept
He is an adept guitar player.
stellar (informal)
superlative
Some superlative wines are made in this region.
proficient
Many Egyptians are proficient in foreign languages.
adroit
She is a remarkably adroit politician.
GR8 (text messaging)
Opposites
inexperienced
,
unskilled
,
untrained
7 (adjective) 
Definition
excellent
(informal) 
It's a great film; you must see it.
Synonyms
excellent
We complimented him on doing an excellent job.
good
You should read this book – it's really good.
fine
This is a fine book.
wonderful
I've always thought he was a wonderful actor.
mean (slang)
She plays a mean game of tennis.
topping (British, slang)
cracking (British, informal)
superb
a superb 18-hole golf course
fantastic (informal)
I have a fantastic social life.
tremendous (informal)
I thought it was absolutely tremendous.
marvellous (informal)
He certainly is a marvellous actor.
terrific (informal)
What a terrific idea!
mega (slang)
sovereign
awesome (slang)
dope (slang)
sick (slang)
admirable
The film tells its story with admirable economy.
first-rate
They were dealing with a first-rate professional.
def (informal)
brill (informal)
boffo (slang)
bitchin'
chillin' (US, slang)
GR8 (text messaging)
jim-dandy (slang)
booshit (Australian, slang)
exo (Australian, slang)
sik (Australian, slang)
rad (informal)
phat (slang)
schmick (Australian, informal)
The band launch their schmick new CD next week.
beaut (informal)
barrie (Scottish, slang)
belting (British, slang)
pearler (Australian, slang)
Opposites
poor
,
average
,
secondary
,
inferior
,
second-rate
,
undistinguished
,
unnotable
8 (adjective) 
He gave me a great big smile.
Synonyms
very
really
particularly
truly
extremely
awfully (informal)
exceedingly
GR8 (text messaging)
9 (adjective) 
You stupid great git!
Synonyms
utter
A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
complete
He made me look like a complete idiot.
total
The car was in a total mess.
I mean I'm not a total idiot.
absolute
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
perfect
She behaved like a perfect fool.
positive (informal)
He was in a positive fury.
downright
downright bad manners
consummate
He was a consummate liar and exaggerator.
unqualified
The event was an unqualified success.
out-and-out
You're an out-and-out liar.
flagrant
a flagrant violation of international law
egregious
the most egregious abuses of human rights
unmitigated
A senior police officer had called him an unmitigated liar.
thoroughgoing
arrant
That's the most arrant nonsense I've ever heard.
GR8 (text messaging)
10 (adjective) 
I'm not a great fan of football.
Synonyms
enthusiastic
The band drew a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
keen
a keen amateur photographer
active
We should play an active role in politics.
devoted
zealous
She was a zealous worker for charitable bodies.
GR8 (text messaging)
11 (adjective) 
Synonyms
long
This is a long film, three hours and seven minutes.
extended
We spent an extended period getting to know one another.
prolonged
lengthy
the lengthy process of filling out forms
protracted
The struggle was bitter and protracted.
GR8 (text messaging)
12 (adjective) 
Synonyms
noble
She was described by contemporaries as possessing a noble bearing and excellent manners.
fine
august
the august surroundings of the Liberal Club
grand
a grand building in the centre of town
princely
the embodiment of princely magnificence
impressive
The film's special effects are particularly impressive.
distinguished
glorious
heroic
The heroic sergeant risked his life to rescue 29 fishermen.
dignified
He conducted the interview in a dignified and professional manner.
sublime
the sublime beauty of nature
lofty
Amid the chaos, he had lofty aims.
idealistic
exalted
I seldom move in such exalted circles.
high-minded
The President's hopes were high-minded, but too vague.
magnanimous
chivalrous
GR8 (text messaging)
Opposites
mean
,
base
,
unkind
,
hateful
,
inhumane
,
ignoble
Copyright © 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Additional synonyms

in the sense of able
Definition
capable or talented
They are bright, intelligent, able and confident.
Synonyms
capable,
experienced,
fit,
fitted,
skilled,
expert,
powerful,
masterly,
effective,
qualified,
talented,
gifted,
efficient,
clever,
practised,
accomplished,
adequate,
competent,
tasty (British, informal),
skilful,
adept,
masterful,
strong,
proficient,
adroit,
highly endowed
in the sense of absolute
Definition
total and complete
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
Synonyms
complete,
total,
perfect,
entire,
pure,
sheer,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
consummate,
unqualified,
full-on (informal),
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
dyed-in-the-wool,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
unmixed,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed
in the sense of active
Definition
energetically involved in or working hard for
We should play an active role in politics.
Synonyms
enthusiastic,
committed,
engaged,
enterprising,
devoted,
activist,
aggressive,
ambitious,
hard-working,
forward,
militant,
energetic,
assertive,
forceful,
two-fisted,
zealous,
industrious

Video: pronunciation of
great

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great

  • graze
  • grease someone's palm
  • greasy
  • great
  • greatly
  • greatness
  • Greece

  • All ENGLISH synonyms that begin with 'G'

Related terms of
great

  • no great shakes
  • set great store by something

Source

Thesaurus for great from the Collins English Thesaurus
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Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1
-

Score: 0 / 5

ascent or assent?

Which version is correct?
He gave his ascent to the proposed legislation.  He gave his assent to the proposed legislation. 

peak or peek?

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peek
peak
The company wanted a large fee for a   at the data.

made or maid?

Which version is correct?
The top of the table is made of glass. The top of the table is maid of glass.

complement or compliment?

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complement
compliment
The green wallpaper is the perfect   to the old pine of the dresser. 

pray or prey?

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pray
prey
We all work and   for peace.
Your score:
Sep 02, 2021
Word of the day
mas
a carnival
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Scrabble score
for 'great':
6

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1
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plain or plane?

Which version is correct?
A plain carpet makes a room look bigger. A plane carpet makes a room look bigger.

gait or gate?

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gate
gait
He opened the   and started walking up to the house.

their or they're?

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they're
their
Some people eat when   feeling low.

morning or mourning?

Which version is correct?
On Sunday morning, Bill was woken by the telephone. On Sunday mourning, Bill was woken by the telephone.

currant or current?

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currant
current
I offered him a   bun with his tea.
Your score:
Updating our Usage
There are many diverse influences on the way that English is used across the world today. We look at some of the ways in which the language is changing. Read our series of blogs to find out more. October 30, 2020 Read more
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