magnanimous

adjective

mag·​nan·​i·​mous mag-ˈna-nə-məs How to pronounce magnanimous (audio)
1
: showing or suggesting a lofty and courageous spirit
the irreproachable lives and magnanimous sufferings of their followersJoseph Addison
2
: showing or suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind
too sincere for dissimulation, too magnanimous for resentmentEllen Glasgow
magnanimously adverb
magnanimousness noun

Did you know?

When you see anima, animus, or a similar formation in a word, it’s often an indicator of something alive, lively, or spirited. Something described as animated is full of life, for example, and the word animal refers to a living thing. The Latin word anima means “breath” or “soul” and animus means “spirit.” In magnanimous, animus is joined by the Latin word magnus, meaning “great.” Basically meaning “greatness of spirit,” magnanimity is the opposite of selfishness. A truly magnanimous person can lose without complaining and win without gloating, and angry disputes can sometimes be resolved when one side makes a magnanimous gesture toward the other.

Examples of magnanimous in a Sentence

"No problem," I dismissed his concerns with a magnanimous flick of the wrist. Tom Perrotta, Joe College, 2000
… and many of them retain a respectful Eisenhower-or-Kennedy-era view of America as Japan's usually magnanimous elder brother. James Fallows, Atlantic, August 1989
… with the off-duty cops downing them as fast as he could pour, Leery could afford to be magnanimous and play the jukebox for the boys and girls. Joseph Wambaugh, The Delta Star, 1983
Levesque was magnanimous in victory, immediately reassuring English-speaking Quebecers that they were still welcome in the province, an integral part of its history. Mordecai Richler, Atlantic, June 1983
She was too magnanimous to resent all the things others had said to her. a magnanimous donation to the town's animal shelter
Recent Examples on the Web Andy Serkis gives his most powerful motion capture performance to date as Caesar, the wise and magnanimous leader of the apes, and the movie perfectly sets the stage for 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes, the final film in the franchise's prequel trilogy. EW.com, 13 Nov. 2023 Onstage, a beaming Mr. Trump made what, for him, amounted to magnanimous remarks about his vanquished opponents. Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2024 Where Madonna’s song is magnanimous and universal, Grande’s is mostly inward and specific. Shaad D’souza, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2024 The photographer to whom Frank was most magnanimous was Brian Graham. Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2023 Stories of one magnanimous soul’s power to sow seeds of light and grace that germinate and create a mellifluous echo across time and place. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2023 Only my grandmother helped herself to an ambitious slice of the torte—a quietly magnanimous acknowledgement of the time and effort her youngest daughter had put into it. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2023 Even more impressive, however, is the magnanimous visionary behind the timepiece. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2023 If the accused does get released, the government presents it as a magnanimous gift, not as acknowledgment that the person should not have been detained in the first place. Mujib Mashal Atul Loke, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'magnanimous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin magnanimus, from magnus great + animus spirit — more at much, animate

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnanimous was in 1547

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Dictionary Entries Near magnanimous

Cite this Entry

“Magnanimous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnanimous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

magnanimous

adjective
mag·​nan·​i·​mous mag-ˈnan-ə-məs How to pronounce magnanimous (audio)
1
: having or showing a noble and courageous spirit
2
: being generous and forgiving
magnanimously adverb

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