Did you know?
Is the word awesome overused?
Many object to the use of awesome to describe something (such as a sandwich) that does not literally elicit feelings of awe. Yet the same people who insist that awesome should be used only of weighty subjects (Niagara Falls, man landing on the moon) will happily use the word awful in reference to something (such as a mess) that falls distinctly short of being “full of awe.” This weakened sense was once considered improper—in fact, complaints about it persisted through the early decades of the 20th century.
The change in meaning that awesome is undergoing may be more recent than that of awful, but both words are treading the same path. For evidence that such change is normal, we need look no further than awe, which originally meant “terror” and now carries the weaker sense “wonder.”
Synonyms
Examples of awesome in a Sentence
Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
This awesome product creates the perfect shelf to sleep on your side.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
His whole family was so fun to work with; the energy on set was awesome.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The supremely talented rock guitarist, best known for his time supporting Ozzy Osbourne as well as for leading his own Black Label Society band, is fronting his awesome Black Sabbath tribute act — Zakk Sabbath — on this road show.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for awesome 
Dictionary Entries Near awesome
Cite this Entry
“Awesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awesome. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
awesome
adjective
Share