aweinspiring

Awe-inspiring is an adjective used to describe something that evokes a strong feeling of awe, a combination of reverence, admiration, and sometimes fear. It is commonly applied to natural wonders, impressive feats, vast landscapes, or works of art and architecture that overwhelm the observer with their scale, beauty, or power.

The term is formed from the noun awe and the present participle inspiring. In English, awe-inspiring is most often written with a hyphen, especially when appearing before a noun, as in an awe-inspiring vista. Some writers use the closed form awe-inspiring or the two-word variant awe inspiring, but hyphenation remains the standard in modern formal writing.

Usage and nuance: Awe-inspiring carries a positive evaluative tone, signaling grandeur or sublimity. It can be somewhat hyperbolic in casual speech or rhetorical contexts. In scientific, technical, or precise prose, authors may opt for more specific descriptors such as stunning, majestic, impressive, or remarkable, depending on the intended emphasis and evidence.

Common contexts include descriptions of natural and cultural landmarks, monumental achievements, or performances that induce a powerful emotional response. While widely accepted in general and literary writing, the word may be scrutinized for overuse in formal or objective discourse, where more measured language is preferred.

See also: awe, magnificence, majesty, breathtaking. Related concepts include the human psychological response to vastness and wonder, and the rhetorical effect of hyperbolic praise in prose and media.