AGGRANDIZEMENT Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

aggrandizement

noun

Definition of aggrandizement

as in advancement

disapproving advancement or increase in power or importance He acted only for his political advantage and personal aggrandizement. self-aggrandizement

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of aggrandizement The prototypical obituary subject lived to be 81, which meant 44 years had elapsed between the accomplishment and, in the cases of the many obscure and quirky characters, their public aggrandizement. — Sam Roberts, Longreads, 11 Aug. 2026 There needs to be a better system of Parks & Beaches member selection, rather than the current process that reinforces the aggrandizement of the existing members … especially if La Jolla is to be its own city. — Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026 The show, which originally confined itself to the claustrophobic ecosystem of the trading floor, has expanded to include the grubby workings of British media and politics, and to show the intersection of the country’s landed aristocracy with other, newer forms of class aggrandizement. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025 His actual goal is aggrandizement. — Shikha Dalmia, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2025 And there were many others in the floundering nation-states of Asia and Africa who succumbed to the American ideology of individual aggrandizement and self-cherishing. — Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggrandizement

Noun

There's reason to believe research on Jonathan and other animals could lead to advancements for people, Austad said.

— KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
This advancement could help scientists investigate how electrons respond to intense light and, eventually, explore ways to control them during chemical reactions.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of advancement

Noun

The evolution of the dough at Flour + Water OG was inspired by their research and development at Flour + Water Pizzeria and the findings of what a preferment does to the complexity of that dough.

— Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
The Communist government’s leadership compound in Beijing, Zhongnanhai, more and more resembles an imperial palace where royal favorites jockey for preferment and titles.

— Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2022

Definition of preferment

Noun

Speaking of God, the pedal steel is capable of exaltation, too, the rise and fall of its strings able to emulate a glorious choir or a keening request or spread out like the cosmos itself.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
In traditional astrology, Venus is considered to be in its fall in Virgo — as this sign directly opposes Pisces, Venus’ exaltation — which means its natural qualities are challenged and difficult to express.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

Definition of exaltation

Noun

Neither maudlin nor melodramatic, and without any glorification, the song is infected by the same chilling gloom which has glommed onto the best of Messrs Linkous, Berman, and Drake.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Grande became the face of an ongoing conversation around health, and the cultural pendulum swing away from body positivity to the glorification of thinness, ignited by the proliferation of weight-loss drugs.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of glorification

Noun

And limiting the ongoing growth in average EV battery capacity—driven by preferences for longer range and larger vehicles—could reduce demand by another 23 percent compared to the current trend.

— Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
But Strategy’s latest purchase shows the company is continuing to build its holdings despite the market’s swings, in line with executive chairman Michael Saylor’s long-standing preference for holding Bitcoin.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of preference

Noun

If Madewell’s current discounts and promotions aren’t piquing your interest, check Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Revolve, Bloomingdale’s, and Shopbop.

— Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
For Ingersoll and some other religious scholars, Hegseth's promotion of an idea that has largely fallen out of favor with the American public ties in closely with his religious background.

— Odette Yousef, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of promotion

Noun

Each offers Braille support, screen magnification, sticky and slow key entry, text narration, and voice input.

— Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Others see the magnification of extinction worries as a purposeful distraction from immediate, real-world AI harms.

— Jared Perlo, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of magnification

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“Aggrandizement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrandizement. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of aggrandizement

noun

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