First Known Use: 1581
Dictionary
munificent
adjective mu·nif·i·cent \myu̇-ˈni-fə-sənt\
: very generous
Full Definition of MUNIFICENT
1
: very liberal in giving or bestowing : lavish
2
: characterized by great liberality or generosity
— mu·nif·i·cence \-sən(t)s\ noun
— mu·nif·i·cent·ly adverb
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Origin of MUNIFICENT
back-formation from munificence, from Latin munificentia, from munificus generous, from munus service, gift — more at mean
Related to MUNIFICENT
- Synonyms
- bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, free, freehanded, freehearted, fulsome, liberal, generous, open, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing, unstinting
- Antonyms
- cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal [archaic], mingy, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, selfish, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
Synonym Discussion of MUNIFICENT
liberal, generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly. liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given <a teacher liberal with her praise>. generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift <a generous offer of help>. bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing <children spoiled by bountiful presents>. munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes <a munificent foundation grant>.
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