Imposing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /im-ˈpō-ziŋ/ im·pos·ing

Meaning & Definition of Imposing

Imposing (adjective)

  1. impressive in size, bearing, dignity, or grandeur

Imposing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner

    "the president of the bank is exactly the sort of imposing figure that one might expect"

    similar: august, dignified, distingué, distinguished, portly, solemn, staid, stately
    related: decorous, proper, seemly, grave, grim, po-faced (British), sober, somber, aristocratic, elegant, elevated, handsome, lordly, magisterial, majestic, noble
    opposite: flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, silly, undignified
    near: coarse, crass, crude, improper, indecent, uncouth, unseemly, vulgar

  2. large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception

    "the corporation's imposing headquarters were designed by one of the nation's cutting-edge architects"

    similar: august, baronial, epic, gallant, glorious, grand, grandiose, heroic, Homeric, imperial, magnific, magnificent, majestic, massive, monumental, noble, proud, regal, royal, splendid, stately
    related: colossal, monstrous, prodigious, stupendous, tremendous, kingly, lordly, princely, queenly, awesome, awful, cosmic, sublime, wondrous, formidable, impressive, prepossessing, redoubtable, apocalyptic, inflated, operatic, overblown, pompous, marvelous, superb, terrific, wonderful, extravagant, lavish, luxurious, opulent, palatial, palatine, sumptuous, gorgeous, resplendent, splendiferous, extraordinary, killer, remarkable, sensational, striking, celestial, divine, heavenly
    opposite: humble, unheroic, unimposing, unimpressive
    near: lowly, modest, unprepossessing, average, common, mediocre, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, second-rate, abject, mean, meretricious, shabby, sordid, insignificant, measly, paltry, petty, puny, trifling, trivial

Imposing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

    "that state now imposes a fine for text messaging while driving"

    similar: assessing, charging, exacting, fining, laying, levying, putting
    related: docking, excising, mulcting, penalizing, taxing, extorting, shaking down, wresting, wringing, bleeding, fleecing, gouging, milking, skinning, squeezing, coercing, compelling, forcing, inflicting, wreaking, setting, reapplying, reimposing, relaying
    opposite: remitting
    near: abating, diminishing, lessening, forgiving, releasing, condoning, disregarding, excusing, glossing (over), glozing (over), ignoring, pardoning

Related Entry: Impose (verb)

Impose is a different word from Imposing. The synonyms below are for impose, not for imposing.

  1. to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

    "that state now imposes a fine for text messaging while driving"

    similar: assess, charge, exact, fine, lay, levy, put
    related: dock, excise, mulct, penalize, tax, extort, shake down, wrest, wring, bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze, coerce, compel, force, inflict, wreak, set, reapply, reimpose, relay
    opposite: remit
    near: abate, diminish, lessen, forgive, release, condone, disregard, excuse, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon

Related Entry: Impose (on or upon) (verb)

Impose (on or upon) is a different word from Imposing. The synonyms below are for impose (on or upon), not for imposing.

  1. to take unfair advantage of

    "thanks for offering your own bed, but I wouldn't dream of imposing on you and will be perfectly happy on the couch"

    similar: abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work, trade on, walk on
    related: jerk around, manipulate, mistreat, bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick, commercialize, commodify

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Imposing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Imposing:

august, dignified, distingué, distinguished, portly, solemn, staid, stately, baronial, epic, gallant, glorious, grand, grandiose, heroic, Homeric, imperial, magnific, magnificent, majestic, massive, monumental, noble, proud, regal, royal, splendid, assessing, charging, exacting, fining, laying, levying, putting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Imposing

Words with the opposite meaning of Imposing:

flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, silly, undignified, humble, unheroic, unimposing, unimpressive, remitting

Related Words for Imposing

decorous, proper, seemly, grave, grim, po-faced, sober, somber, aristocratic, elegant, elevated, handsome, lordly, magisterial, colossal, monstrous, prodigious, stupendous, tremendous, kingly, princely, queenly, awesome, awful, cosmic, sublime, wondrous, formidable, impressive, prepossessing

Near Antonyms of Imposing

coarse, crass, crude, improper, indecent, uncouth, unseemly, vulgar, lowly, modest, unprepossessing, average, common, mediocre, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, second-rate, abject, mean, meretricious, shabby, sordid, insignificant, measly, paltry, petty, puny, trifling, trivial, abating

Word Forms of Imposing

Derived words: imposingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Imposing

First known use: 1786

Frequently Asked Questions about Imposing

What does "Imposing" mean?

"Imposing" means impressive in size, bearing, dignity, or grandeur. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: impressive in size, bearing, dignity, or grandeur. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Imposing"?

Other words for "Imposing" include august, dignified, distingué, distinguished, portly, solemn, staid and stately. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Imposing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Imposing"?

There are 116 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Imposing". Common alternatives include august, dignified, distingué, distinguished, portly, solemn, staid, stately, baronial and epic.

What is the opposite of "Imposing"?

Antonyms of "Imposing" include flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, silly, undignified, humble and unheroic. Near antonyms include coarse, crass, crude and improper.

How do you use "Imposing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Imposing" in a sentence: "the president of the bank is exactly the sort of imposing figure that one might expect"; "the corporation's imposing headquarters were designed by one of the nation's cutting-edge architects"; "that state now imposes a fine for text messaging while driving".

Is "Imposing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Imposing" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Imposing"?

"Imposing" is pronounced /im-ˈpō-ziŋ/ and divided into syllables as im·pos·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Imposing"?

First known use: 1786.