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larger-than-life

When something is larger-than-life, it seems more important or fascinating than anything else around it. An actor who is mild mannered and shy in person can seem larger-than-life when she's on the stage.

You can use this term for something that's actually larger than usual, like Michelangelo's larger-than-life statue "David," which is three times as tall as the average man. It's also a good way to describe someone who is so flashy and flamboyant that they just seem to take up extra room: "My larger-than-life cousin makes every family gathering much more interesting."

Definitions of larger-than-life
  1. adjective
    very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
    synonyms: epic, heroic
    big, large
    above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘larger-than-life'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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