Dantesque

[ dan-tesk ]

adjective

1. in the style of Dante; characterized by impressive elevation of style with deep solemnity or somberness of feeling.

Other Words From

• pseudo-Dan·tesque adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dantesque¹

1825–35; Dant(e) + -esque; compare French dantesque, Italian dantesco

Example Sentences

Education Minister Pilar Alegría called the image of Obregón leaving the hospital "Dantesque", referring to the Italian writer's journey through hell.

From BBC

“It’s Dantesque. No one has seen anything like it.”

From Seattle Times

It shows Sciola standing, gaunt and Dantesque, against a black backdrop.

From Literature

If you feel like every avenue has led to a dead end or a Dantesque traffic circle, you may have one final line of defense: your credit card company.

From Washington Post

Thus, his eternal roaming has a hint of a Dantesque punishment — he who loves television will be doomed to observe the world without participating, trapped forever in front of a screen with no remote control.

From New York Times