Basic Details
Word: Spectacular
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Very impressive to look at or very exciting, often because it is big, bright or dramatic.
Synonyms: stunning, magnificent, dazzling, breathtaking
Antonyms: ordinary, dull
How to Spell Spectacular
Syllables: spec - tac - u - lar
Tricky part: There are two a's: spec-TAC and LAR. Students write spectaculer (er instead of ar) or spectacualr by mixing the last letters.
Watch out for: spectaculer, spectecular, spectacualr
Memory tip: It ends in ar, just like popular and circular, so finish with l-a-r and not l-e-r.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The sunrise over Kanchenjunga was so spectacular that nobody spoke for a minute.
Example 2: Rohit took a spectacular catch on the boundary to win the match.
Example 3: The temple was lit with thousands of lamps, a spectacular sight on Dev Deepawali.
Fun Fact
It comes from the Latin spectaculum, a public show, which grew from spectare, to watch; spectator and inspect come from the same family.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word spectacular as it is used in the sentence:
The fireworks over the lake on New Year's Eve were truly spectacular.
a) dazzling
b) ordinary
c) stunning
d) magnificent
Show answer
b) ordinary. Dazzling, stunning and magnificent praise the show; ordinary means nothing special.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
spect_cul_r
a) a, a
b) a, e
c) e, a
d) u, a
Show answer
a) a, a. Both gaps take a: the tac in the middle and the lar at the end.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. extrordinary 2. spectacular 3. magnificant 4. marvelus
a) very unusual or surprising
b) extremely beautiful and grand
c) extremely good; wonderful
d) very impressive to look at
Show answer
d) very impressive to look at. Magnificent ends in ent, extraordinary keeps the a of extra, and marvellous has a double l and ous.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would you most likely call spectacular?
a) a puddle on the road
b) a closed shop
c) an empty glass
d) a waterfall in full flood
Show answer
d) a waterfall in full flood
2. A spectacular view from a hilltop is one that ____.
a) takes your breath away
b) is hidden by thick fog
c) costs money to look at
d) is very hard to reach
Show answer
a) takes your breath away
