Another word for great
Great (adjective): Very good, impressive, or large in degree, depending on context. Below are 30 synonyms across 4 senses. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
Most formal: distinguished, eminent, illustriousStrongest: legendary, superb, fantastic
31 synonyms shown
Very good · adjective
excellent; highly satisfying
Important or notable · adjective
significant; distinguished; influential
Large in size · adjective
very large; extensive in amount or degree
Used with people or titles · adjective
respected or famous, as in 'the great writer'
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- wonderful — Warm, positive, often personal
- excellent — More polished and evaluative
- terrific — Friendly, upbeat approval
The dashed ring marks “great” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for great in your sentence
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How to choose
Great is flexible, so pick the synonym that matches the sense: for praise, excellent or superb sound stronger and more precise than great. In formal writing, prefer words like significant, notable, or eminent over casual options like awesome or huge.
Antonyms of great
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| excellent | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, casual |
| superb | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative, casual |
| terrific | 3/5 | casual | business, creative, casual |
| wonderful | 3/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
| fantastic | 4/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| awesome | 3/5 | slang | casual |
| outstanding | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| fine | 1/5 | neutral | business, casual |
| important | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| major | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| significant | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| notable | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| prominent | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| renowned | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| distinguished | 4/5 | academic | academic, business |
| big | 1/5 | casual | casual, business |
| large | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| huge | 4/5 | casual | casual, business |
| enormous | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| massive | 4/5 | casual | business, casual |
| vast | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| immense | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| substantial | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| considerable | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| famous | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| celebrated | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| eminent | 4/5 | academic | academic, business |
| illustrious | 4/5 | academic | academic, business, creative |
| legendary | 5/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
| noted | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
Questions about synonyms for great
What is the most formal or academic synonym for great?
It depends on the sense. For importance or size, significant, substantial, or considerable are often the best formal choices; for a person, eminent or distinguished is more academic.
What is a stronger synonym than great, and what is a milder one?
For stronger praise, superb, outstanding, or enormous can exceed great in force depending on context. For milder approval, fine or good is less emphatic and often more restrained.
Can great mean 'large' as well as 'excellent'?
Yes. In ordinary use, great often means 'very good,' but it can also mean 'large' or 'important,' especially in phrases like a great deal, the great outdoors, or the Great Depression.