wondrous

Wondrous is an adjective meaning inspiring wonder or admiration; extraordinary, marvelous. In modern English it is most common in literary, ceremonial, or religious contexts and is less frequent in everyday speech, where "wonderful" is preferred. Wondrous can describe natural phenomena, remarkable achievements, or experiences that provoke a sense of awe. It is often used to convey grandeur, mystery, or a sense of the sublime.

Originating from wonder with the suffix -ous, wondrous traces back to Old English wundor and related Germanic forms. It appeared in Middle English and has retained a sense of majesty and awe. A historically attested variant spelling is wonderous, though the standard modern form is wondrous.

It frequently appears in poetic or biblical language, as in "the wondrous works of creation" or "a wondrous sight to behold." The word can be adjusted with adverbs such as wondrously and with nouns like wondrousness to discuss the quality itself.

Related words include wonder, wonderful, wonderment, and wondrousness. While closely related, wondrous emphasizes the effect on the observer—astonishment and awe—whereas wonderful is more commonly used in everyday praise.