It describes something so remarkable that it leaves people amazed.

Example for daily usage:

• The singer gave a stupendous performance that the audience will remember for years.
• The sunset near the beach looked stupendous this evening.

Origin and history

The word "stupendous" originates from the Latin word "stupendus", which is the gerundive of "stupēre", meaning "to be stunned", "to be amazed", or "to be struck senseless". It entered English in the early 1600s (around 1618), initially referring to something that causes astonishment.

The word 'stupendous' entered the English language in the 16th century, originally used to describe things that were astonishing in size or power, such as natural wonders, great buildings, or heroic deeds.

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Cultural significance and modern usage:

Mark Twain described India's landscapes, sounds, and spectacles as a "land of stupendous mountains" and "giant illusions", highlighting the word's use to describe overwhelming cultural and geographical richness.

It has historically been used to emphasise grand scale, such as "a stupendous pile" or "all are but parts of one stupendous whole".

It is used to describe extraordinary feats, such as "a stupendous performance", "a stupendous success", or "a stupendous effort".

While formal, it is sometimes used in modern contexts to add flair and excitement, such as describing a "stupendously well-crafted film" or a "stupendous response" to an event.

Interesting facts:

• In early English writing, stupendous was often used to describe huge natural wonders like mountains, oceans, waterfalls, or massive monuments rather than everyday achievements.
• During the 18th and 19th centuries, explorers and travel writers frequently used the word 'stupendous' when describing breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, and architectural marvels.

Examples from literature:

• So far some of the words are: "hover," "flamboyant," "swoop," "rind," "trophy," "yikes", "stupendous", "cheese", and "wyvern."- Beast Rider by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
• Perhaps this is because they enclose the unique, the spectacular, the astounding-the greatest waterfall, the deepest canyon, the highest cliff, the most stupendous works of man or nature.- Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
• His face was dark with the violent pleasure of making this stupendous noise, and his heart was making the stretched shirt shake. - Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Synonyms:

• Astonishing
• Astounding
• Breathtaking
• Colossal
• Dynamite

Antonyms:

• Terrible
• Unimportant
• Unimpressive

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