august

adjective

ȯ-ˈgəst How to pronounce august (audio)
Definition of augustnext
1
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner unsurprisingly, the head of the bank is an august white-haired gentleman

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in glorious
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception an august golden anniversary celebration for the company

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of august Tut-tutting about how the president and his minions have turned an august judicial process into an over-the-top spectacle is not going to get them anywhere, especially with their otherwise reliable media allies. — Matthew Walther, TheWeek, 17 Jan. 2020 The metropolitan elitism that looks down from the august heights of Ivy League self-esteem on the centrality of athletic programs to so many colleges is quite entrenched. — Gerard Baker, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2020 At the moment, the Oscars reflect the Academy, but the Academy reflects nothing but its august name; plausible deniability and the shunning of responsibility are built into the current system. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2020 Most were faculty, august scholars and artists, but W, a singer with a staff job, was also part of the circle. — Longreads, 2 Jan. 2020 See All Example Sentences for august
Recent Examples of Synonyms for august
  1. imposing
  2. glorious
  3. solemn
  4. magnificent
  5. distinguished
  6. epic
  7. staid
  8. royal
Adjective
  • When houses squeeze into their lots, vehicles grow more imposing, and storefronts battle for attention, the problem is no longer simply whether something is beautiful or ugly.
    — Debbie Millman, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Propaganda posters from the era from both the democratic United States and the Axis powers surround the imposing, heavy-duty boots, covered in animal hair and insulation.
    — Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of imposing
Adjective
  • With a sky-skimming infinity pool, the longest in Palma, that brings the Balearic sea right up to the feet of the Balinese sunbeds, El Llorenç’s rooftop is glorious.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Somewhere in the heavens, these beloved instruments have formed a glorious orchestra—a cosmic symphony where every lost voice is restored.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of glorious
Adjective
  • This production, solemn about our obligations to one another but committed to providing a good night out at the theater, is neither.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Zack Wheeler pitched a gem against Tampa Bay on Sunday and untangled a few thousand knots inside the stomachs of Phillies fans, and even from those inside a mostly solemn clubhouse.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Outperformance for the non-magnificent S & P 493 would come at key point for the stock market, which has chugged along fine on the headline level thanks to the megacaps but has seen its breadth weaken considerably beneath the surface.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Waugh was a magnificent writer, and his prose has a rare gravity and balance.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of magnificent
Adjective
  • Abdel El Manira, a distinguished professor at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and a member of the Nobel committee, said at the prize announcement that optogenetics' impacts extend beyond our understanding of the healthy brain.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Among his distinguished awards are the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2012 and an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2017 by the French Ministry of Culture.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinguished
Adjective
  • So the fact that Zoe Kazan’s East of Eden is his first job since a notable 2024 that included Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers and Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders suggests the epic family drama holds particular meaning for him.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The tour kicks off April 6 at Nashville’s Pinnacle and includes some epic stops at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of epic
Adjective
  • Ink has great fun dramatizing how the staid postwar consensus — a world of snobbery, dignity, and unions — was eclipsed by The Sun’s muscular populism.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026
  • But Ossoff has also dedicated much of his Senate investigative focus to bipartisan probes on more staid topics like abuse in the foster care system, prison conditions and maternal mortality.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of staid
Adjective
  • Set the scene Set in the heart of Bangkok’s royal quarter, this hotel is mere steps away from The Grand Palace and the famous Reclining Buddha of Wat Po.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Interest is heightened when royal stories cover Princess Diana, who was one of the most famous women in the world, with people fascinated by her life.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of royal

Browse Nearby Words

augury
august
augustness
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Cite this Entry

“August.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/august. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on august

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about august

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