Amazing vs. Awesome — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
Amazing often implies surprise or wonder, while awesome conveys awe or admiration.
Difference Between Amazing and Awesome
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Amazing often denotes something that causes great surprise or wonder. It's used when something exceeds expectations or is hard to believe. For instance, "The magician's performance was amazing" suggests that the performance was surprising and impressive.
Awesome, on the other hand, suggests something that inspires awe or admiration. It's often used for things that are impressive on a larger scale or due to their greatness. For example, "The view from the mountain was awesome" implies that the view was breathtaking and inspiring.
In colloquial usage, both words are often used interchangeably to express a high level of enthusiasm or approval. While "amazing" can suggest something unexpectedly wonderful, "awesome" tends to indicate something grand or magnificent.
Both words have evolved in popular language to express a wide range of positive emotions, from mild pleasure to overwhelming admiration. The context often determines the intensity of the emotion conveyed.
Comparison Chart
Connotation
Surprise, wonder.
Awe, admiration.
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Intensity
Can be used for smaller wonders.
Often implies something grander.
Usage in Speech
More common for personal experiences.
More common for grand phenomena.
Emotional Response
Delight, astonishment.
Reverence, admiration.
Scope
Often personal or specific.
Can be broader or more universal.
Compare with Definitions
Amazing
Remarkably good.
His knowledge of history is amazing.
Awesome
Impressively great.
The athlete's strength is awesome.
Amazing
Exceptionally good.
Her singing voice is amazing.
Awesome
Causing deep respect.
The canyon's size is awesome.
Amazing
Unexpectedly excellent.
The sudden rainstorm was amazing.
Awesome
Worthy of respect.
His dedication to charity is awesome.
Amazing
Pleasing and surprising.
The dessert she made was amazing.
Awesome
Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe
The awesome power of the atomic bomb
Amazing
Breathtaking in a surprising way.
The magic show was amazing.
Awesome
Inspiring awe
An awesome thunderstorm.
Amazing
To affect with great wonder; astonish.
Awesome
Expressing awe
Stood in awesome silence before the ancient ruins.
Amazing
(Obsolete) To bewilder; perplex.
Awesome
(Slang) Remarkable; outstanding
"a totally awesome arcade game" (Los Angeles Times).
Amazing
To cause great wonder or astonishment
A sight that amazes.
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.
Amazing
Amazement; wonder.
Awesome
(colloquial) Excellent, exciting, remarkable.
That was awesome!
Awesome, dude!
Amazing
Present participle of amaze
Awesome
(slang) nodot=a: the quality, state, or essence of being awesome.
Pure awesome
Made of awesome
Amazing
Causing wonder and amazement; very surprising.
Awesome
Causing awe; appalling; awful; as, an awesome sight.
Amazing
(informal) Possessing uniquely wonderful qualities; very good.
Awesome
Expressive of awe or terror.
An awesome glance up at the auld castle.
Amazing
Causing amazement; very wonderful; as, amazing grace.
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
Amazing
Surprising greatly;
She does an amazing amount of work
The dog was capable of astonishing tricks
Awesome
Grand and impressive.
Her performance was awesome.
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
Awesome
Overpoweringly good.
The sunset was truly awesome.
Common Curiosities
Can Amazing imply something unexpected?
Yes, it often suggests surprise.
What does Awesome mean?
It means causing awe or admiration.
What does Amazing mean?
It means causing great surprise or wonder.
Give an example where Awesome is used.
"The power of nature is awesome."
Is Amazing used for personal experiences?
Yes, it's often personal.
Give an example where Amazing is used.
"The acrobat's skills were amazing."
Are Amazing and Awesome interchangeable?
In casual speech, they often are.
Does Amazing always imply positivity?
Generally, but it can be neutral.
Is Awesome stronger than Amazing?
Sometimes, depending on context.
Can Awesome be used for people?
Yes, to express admiration.
Does Awesome imply greatness?
Yes, it suggests something grand or impressive.
Can Awesome describe natural phenomena?
Yes, it's suitable for grand phenomena.
Is Amazing more common in casual speech?
Yes, it's widely used colloquially.
Can a historical event be described as Awesome?
Yes, if it's awe-inspiring or grand.
Can a movie be described as Amazing?
Yes, if it's surprising or impressive.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
