Awesome vs. Amazing: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Awesome implies an awe-inspiring, remarkable quality, while amazing refers to something surprising and impressive.
Key Differences
Awesome is used to describe something that inspires awe, possibly due to its grandeur or excellence. Amazing, on the other hand, connotes something that causes great surprise or wonder, often unexpectedly.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
The term awesome often carries a sense of overwhelming or vast in scale, like a natural wonder. Amazing is more about the element of astonishment or marvel, like an incredible performance.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Awesome can also imply a deep respect or reverence, sometimes even fear. Amazing, however, leans towards positivity and enthusiasm, without the connotation of intimidation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
In colloquial use, awesome is frequently used to express approval or admiration. Amazing is also used in everyday language to express delight or fascination.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
The awe in awesome suggests a larger-than-life aspect, something beyond ordinary. Amazing often relates to something exceptionally good or impressive in a surprising way.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Implication
Inspires awe, possibly due to grandeur
Causes surprise or wonder, impressive
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Dec 19, 2023
Scale
Often overwhelming or vast
More focused on the element of astonishment
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Dec 19, 2023
Emotional Connotation
Can imply reverence or fear
Leans towards positivity and enthusiasm
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Dec 19, 2023
Colloquial Usage
Used for approval or admiration
Used for delight or fascination
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Dec 19, 2023
Nature
Larger-than-life, beyond ordinary
Exceptionally good or surprising in quality
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Dec 19, 2023
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Awesome and Amazing Definitions
Awesome
Inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence or admiration.
The Grand Canyon is an awesome sight.
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Dec 12, 2023
Awesome
Extremely impressive or daunting.
Climbing Mount Everest is an awesome challenge.
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Dec 12, 2023
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Amazing
Causing great surprise or wonder.
It's amazing how quickly technology advances.
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Dec 12, 2023
Amazing
Inspiring awe through something unexpected.
The sudden rainbow was an amazing sight.
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Dec 12, 2023
Awesome
Remarkable or outstanding.
Her achievements in science are truly awesome.
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Dec 12, 2023
Awesome
(Slang) Remarkable; outstanding
"a totally awesome arcade game" (Los Angeles Times).
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Dec 10, 2023
Awesome
(dated) Causing awe or terror; inspiring wonder or excitement.
The waterfall in the middle of the rainforest was an awesome sight.
The tsunami was awesome in its destructive power.
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Dec 10, 2023
Awesome
(colloquial) Excellent, exciting, remarkable.
That was awesome!
Awesome, dude!
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Dec 10, 2023
Awesome
(slang) nodot=a: the quality, state, or essence of being awesome.
Pure awesome
Made of awesome
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Dec 10, 2023
Awesome
Expressive of awe or terror.
An awesome glance up at the auld castle.
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Dec 10, 2023
Awesome
Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder;
New York is an amazing city
The Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
The awesome complexity of the universe
This sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath
Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
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Dec 10, 2023
Amazing
Surprising greatly;
She does an amazing amount of work
The dog was capable of astonishing tricks
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Dec 10, 2023
Amazing
Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder;
New York is an amazing city
The Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
The awesome complexity of the universe
This sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath
Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 10, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is amazing always positive?
Amazing is generally used in a positive context, highlighting impressiveness.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Is awesome a more intense word than amazing?
Awesome can imply a greater level of intensity, often with a sense of reverence.
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Dec 19, 2023
Can awesome and amazing be used interchangeably?
While similar, their nuances differ; awesome implies awe, amazing suggests surprise.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Does awesome always imply fear?
Not always; it can, but often it's used to express admiration or approval.
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Dec 19, 2023
Is amazing suitable for formal writing?
Amazing can be used in formal contexts, but with consideration to its informality.
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Dec 19, 2023
Can amazing be used to describe negative surprise?
Rarely; it's typically associated with positive or impressive aspects.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Can a person be described as awesome?
Yes, describing someone as awesome implies admiration for them.
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Dec 19, 2023
Does awesome have a religious connotation?
Historically, yes, but in modern usage, this connotation is less prevalent.
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Dec 19, 2023
Has the meaning of awesome changed over time?
Yes, awesome has evolved to a more casual term of approval in modern usage.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Can amazing refer to something negative that is surprising?
Technically yes, but it's commonly used for positively surprising things.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Are awesome and amazing subjective terms?
Yes, their use can be subjective, based on personal perspective.
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Dec 19, 2023
Do awesome and amazing have synonyms?
Yes, both have synonyms like 'impressive', 'incredible', though with subtle differences.
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Dec 19, 2023
Is it appropriate to use amazing in professional contexts?
It can be, though it depends on the formality of the context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Is awesome a modern slang term?
It's used colloquially in modern language, but it's not just slang.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Is amazing used more in spoken or written English?
Amazing is commonly used in both, but perhaps more in spoken English.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Can a situation be described as amazing?
Yes, situations that are impressively surprising can be described as amazing.
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Dec 19, 2023
Does awesome imply a bigger scale than amazing?
Often yes, as it can suggest something grand or overwhelming.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 19, 2023
Are there cultural differences in using awesome and amazing?
Yes, their usage and perceived intensity can vary across cultures.
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Dec 19, 2023
Is awesome used globally?
Yes, though its usage and popularity can vary by region.
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Dec 19, 2023
Can inanimate objects be awesome?
Yes, inanimate objects can be described as awesome for their impressive qualities.
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Dec 19, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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