magnanimous

[ mag-nan-uh-muhs ]

adjective

1. generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness:

   to be magnanimous toward one's enemies.

   Synonyms: kindly, charitable, big

2. high-minded; noble:

   a just and magnanimous ruler.

3. proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character, etc.:

   a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness.

magnanimous

/ mæɡˈnænɪməs /

adjective

1. generous and noble

Derived Forms

• magˈnanimousness, noun
• magˈnanimously, adverb

Other Words From

• mag·nani·mous·ly adverb
• mag·nani·mous·ness noun
• unmag·nani·mous adjective
• unmag·nani·mous·ly adverb
• unmag·nani·mous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnanimous¹

First recorded in 1540–60; from Latin magnanimus “great-souled,” equivalent to magn(us) “great” + anim(us) “spirit, soul, mind” + -us adjective suffix; magn-, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnanimous¹

C16: from Latin magnanimus great-souled

Synonym Study

See noble.

Example Sentences

“If it looks like what’s gonna happen happens, I do hope everybody can be gracious and magnanimous,” Ford said.

From Slate

The current Spirit CEO, longtime executive Ted Christie, has been more magnanimous in public—he acknowledged the chaos mass cancellations caused in 2019, for example—but Spirit’s foundational unwillingness to give in to customers who feel wronged has not noticeably shifted.

From Slate

“Unfortunately, the supposedly magnanimous MrBeast did not want to use ... alleged unconstrained resources to provide fair wages, or even bare-minimum-legal working conditions, to the contestants whose labor comprised the core commercial value of Beast Games.”

From Los Angeles Times

Magnanimous and proud, smiling and generous, Trump presented a smorgasbord.

From Salon

Though Carini fell to her knees and cried after losing to Khelif, she was similarly magnanimous when speaking with reporters.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• altruistic
• charitable
• considerate
• forgiving
• selfless
• unselfish
• unstinting