What does resplendent mean?
Word: Resplendent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Resplendent means very bright and beautiful in a way that catches the eye, often because of fine clothes or bright colours.
Synonyms: dazzling, magnificent, gorgeous
Antonyms: dull, drab
Word origin: From Latin, from re- (adding force) and a verb meaning 'to shine'; English has used it since the 1400s.
How do you spell resplendent?
Syllables: re - splen - dent
Tricky part: Its last letters are -ent, not -ant: resplendant is the classic slip.
Watch out for: resplendant, resplendint
Memory tip: Resplendent things make a grand entrance: let the word end with the e-n-t that starts entrance.
Resplendent in a sentence
Example 1: The bride looked resplendent in a red and gold silk gown.
Example 2: The palace was resplendent with thousands of lamps on the night of the king's birthday.
Example 3: The peacock stood resplendent on the wall, its tail fanned out in the sun.
Fun Fact
One of the most colourful birds of Central America is called the resplendent quetzal; it is the national bird of Guatemala.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
In their new uniforms with shining brass buttons, the school band looked resplandent as it marched past the stage at the town parade.
a) buttons and stage
b) only uniforms
c) resplandent and uniforms
d) only resplandent
Show answer
d) only resplandent. Resplendent has an e after the l, as in splendid; every other word is correct.
Word Tally
Give 2 marks for each correctly spelt word. How many marks does the list get?
resplendent, magnifisent, brilliant, ellegant, fragrant
a) 4
b) 10
c) 6
d) 8
Show answer
c) 6. Magnificent and elegant are misspelt, so resplendent, brilliant and fragrant score 2 marks each.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with the word closest in meaning:
1. resplendent 2. feeble 3. hostile a. weak b. unfriendly c. radiant
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. Resplendent means radiant, feeble means weak and hostile means unfriendly.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
nndlersptee
a) glowing with rich colour and beauty
b) very quiet and calm, like a still lake
c) very small and hard to see clearly
d) very old and worn out from long use
Show answer
a) glowing with rich colour and beauty. The letters spell resplendent, which describes something dazzling to look at.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these could be described as resplendent?
a) a torn paper bag in the rain
b) an empty room with bare walls
c) a grand hall lit by a thousand lamps
d) a muddy puddle on a grey day
Show answer
c) a grand hall lit by a thousand lamps
2. Which sentence uses resplendent correctly?
a) He resplendent the plates after dinner.
b) The cold soup was resplendent and tasteless.
c) The dancers looked resplendent in their silk costumes.
d) She resplendented her homework late.
Show answer
c) The dancers looked resplendent in their silk costumes.
