YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

Magnanimous

Adjective

IPA /mæɡˈnænɪməs/

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Meaning in plain English

Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.

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Pronunciation

Magnanimous/mæɡˈnænɪməs/

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You win a competition
You treat your rival generously

A magnanimous winner is generous towards the person who lost.

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Despite losing the match, she was magnanimous in congratulating her opponent.
His magnanimous donation funded the community center that had once turned him away.

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Despite losing the match, she was ________ in congratulating her opponent.

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Magnanimous — Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.

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Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.

Compare: Despite losing the match, she was magnanimous in congratulating her opponent.

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Magnanimous in victory or disagreement

Magnanimous describes generosity of spirit. It often fits someone who forgives, gives credit or treats a rival kindly when they could behave resentfully. It does not require a financial gift. The noun is magnanimity, while magnanimously describes the manner of an action.

In context: After winning the debate, Asha was magnanimous enough to acknowledge her opponent’s strongest point.

Try it: Choose the form: “He accepted the apology ___ (magnanimous / magnanimously).”

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Magnanimously. It describes how he accepted it. Magnanimous is the adjective in a magnanimous response.

Compare with Munificent →

Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: Magnanimous.

Word origin

From Latin magnanimus — magnus (“great”) + animus (“soul” or “mind”), meaning “great-souled.”

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Common phrases include magnanimous in victory and magnanimous in defeat. Both suggest generosity towards an opponent.

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