“Marvelous” does the job — but the right alternative does more. Here are 6 curated replacements, each with a definition, pronunciation, and an example of it working on the page.
So awe-inspiring as to transcend ordinary experience, evoking both beauty and grandeur.
“The view from the cliff at dawn was nothing short of sublime, silencing every one of us.”
Best for: Works well in artistic, natural, or emotional contexts where 'marvelous' feels too light.
Dazzlingly impressive in appearance or quality, radiating brilliance.
“She arrived in a resplendent gown that made the entire ballroom stop and stare.”
Best for: Best for vivid visual or sensory descriptions; carries a ceremonial, luminous quality.
Astonishingly impressive in scale, force, or excellence.
“The orchestra's finale was stupendous — the walls themselves seemed to vibrate with it.”
Best for: Punchy and emphatic; great for spoken language or writing with high energy and enthusiasm.
Too great, beautiful, or overwhelming to be adequately expressed in words.
“There was an ineffable quality to the music that left the audience in reverent silence.”
Best for: Ideal for literary or philosophical writing when wonder defies description.
Having a strong spiritual or mysterious quality that inspires awe and reverence.
“Walking through the ancient forest at dusk, he felt a numinous presence in the stillness.”
Best for: Rare and powerful; best in literary, spiritual, or contemplative prose.
Remarkably extraordinary in size, extent, or degree, inspiring great admiration.
“Her prodigious talent for language meant she was fluent in five tongues by age twelve.”
Best for: Suits contexts of remarkable human achievement or scale; more precise than 'marvelous'.
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