pulchritudinous
Americanadjective
Usage
What does pulchritudinous mean? Pulchritudinous is an adjective that means physically beautiful or attractive.Pulchritudinous is a grandiose way of saying someone or something is good-looking. It’s quite rare and, for that reason, usually used for humorous effect.Example: The makeup artist said my epidermis was pulchritudinous, which I guess means I have nice skin.
Etymology
Origin of pulchritudinous
An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; from Latin pulchritūdin- (stem of pulchritūdō ) + -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Unlike the fleshy, pulchritudinous and radiant nudes of Rubens and Renoir, Mr. Pearlstein’s models are painted as ordinary human beings.
From Washington Post
With a kit featuring 12 drums, Smith didn’t always meet with neutral critical acclaim, one reviewer dismissing her a “pulchritudinous Miss who so adeptly maneuvers the drums and cymbals”.
From The Guardian
One reviewer called her a “pulchritudinous miss who so adeptly maneuvers the drums and cymbals.”
From Washington Post
The group tackle sexist misconceptions head on in the video for Physical, which gleefully skewers the clichéd portrayal of girl bands as pulchritudinous sex kittens.
From BBC
Camera angles, special effects and editing preserve the illusion that it is a pulchritudinous star leaping off a building or driving through a window rather than a man in drag.
From The Guardian
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
