Resplendent
adjective /rɪˈsplendənt/ — Dazzling in the best possible way.
Definition
Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or elaborate.
Beyond the definition
The visual equivalent of the word 'magnificent.' Reserved for moments when something is so visually striking that ordinary words feel inadequate.
Origin & history
From Latin resplendere — to shine brightly (re- 'again' + splendere 'to shine').
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She arrived resplendent in a deep crimson gown that silenced the room.
The palace was resplendent in gold and marble.
The peacock stood resplendent in the morning light.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Resplendent” when the meaning fits your context: Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or elaborate.
Synonyms
dazzling, magnificent, splendid, glorious, brilliant
Antonyms
dull, plain, unremarkable
Related words
- luminous
- iridescent
- opulent
- sumptuous
Resplendent vs magnificent
Resplendent refers to a dazzling, visual beauty or shining appearance. Magnificent is a broader term for something grand, impressive, or excellent in quality or scale.
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
There's a photograph in the National Portrait Gallery of a woman at a state dinner in 1962. She is not the most powerful person in the room. She is not even the most formally dressed. But every eye in the photograph is finding her.
The curator wrote one sentence about it: "She is resplendent — a word we rarely use truthfully."
"I have shown this photograph to a thousand people," the curator said later. "Everyone sees the same thing. Nobody can agree on why."
Questions about this word
What does "Resplendent" mean?
Resplendent is adjective meaning: Dazzling in the best possible way.. Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or elaborate.
Which words express “beauty that demands you stop”?
Resplendent — Dazzling in the best possible way.
Where does the word "Resplendent" come from?
From Latin resplendere — to shine brightly (re- 'again' + splendere 'to shine').