Remarkable Synonyms: 18 Other Ways to Say Remarkable (With Examples & Usage Tips)
7 min read
Updated Oct 2026
Quick answer: the best remarkable synonyms are extraordinary, outstanding, phenomenal, stunning, and exceptional. Use extraordinary for once-in-a-lifetime moments, outstanding for professional praise, phenomenal for high-energy excitement, stunning for visual beauty, and exceptional for polished, trustworthy compliments.
18 Other Ways to Say Remarkable: The Complete Synonym List
“Remarkable” is a fine word, but repeating it drains its power. These 18 remarkable synonyms let you praise people, moments, and achievements with real energy. Each entry gives you the meaning, when to use it, when to avoid it, and three original example sentences. Browse more praise words in our amazing synonyms and beautiful synonyms guides, and explore the full library at SpellDict.
1. Extraordinary
Meaning: going far beyond what is ordinary or expected.
When to use it: use extraordinary for rare, once-in-a-lifetime events and abilities. It carries genuine weight.
When to avoid it: avoid it for everyday good things — overuse makes it meaningless.
- The rescue team showed extraordinary courage during the flood.
- She has an extraordinary memory for names and faces.
- It was an extraordinary night that nobody will forget.
2. Incredible
Meaning: so impressive that it is almost hard to believe.
When to use it: use incredible in excited, emotional moments — reviews, reactions, and celebrations.
When to avoid it: avoid it in formal reports, where its casual energy can sound unprofessional.
- The view from the rooftop at sunset was absolutely incredible.
- He gave an incredible speech that moved the whole crowd.
- Her progress this year has been truly incredible.
3. Outstanding
Meaning: standing out clearly above everything else.
When to use it: use outstanding for professional praise — reviews, awards, and performance feedback.
When to avoid it: avoid it for small, everyday kindnesses, where it can sound stiff.
- She received an outstanding evaluation from her manager.
- The chef served an outstanding meal to every guest.
- His outstanding effort carried the team to victory.
4. Phenomenal
Meaning: spectacularly impressive; jaw-droppingly good.
When to use it: use phenomenal when you are excited and want your listener to feel that excitement too.
When to avoid it: avoid it in quiet, serious contexts — it is a loud word.
- The band played a phenomenal set that lasted two hours.
- Ticket sales for the show were simply phenomenal.
- She has phenomenal instincts for new business ideas.
5. Exceptional
Meaning: clearly above the normal standard; unusually good.
When to use it: use exceptional for polished, honest praise in both professional and personal settings.
When to avoid it: avoid it for things that are merely good — save it for the truly above-average.
- The hotel staff gave us exceptional service all week.
- He showed exceptional patience with the new trainees.
- Her exceptional attention to detail saved the project.
6. Stunning
Meaning: so beautiful or impressive that it leaves you breathless.
When to use it: use stunning for visuals, performances, and moments that genuinely take your breath away.
When to avoid it: avoid it for abstract achievements like profits — it is a sensory word.
- The bride wore a stunning dress at the ceremony.
- The garden looked stunning after the spring rain.
- His stunning comeback in the last round shocked everyone.

7. Impressive
Meaning: deserving admiration and respect for quality or skill.
When to use it: use impressive as a dependable, all-purpose compliment in any setting.
When to avoid it: avoid it when you need real emotional heat — it is respectful, not passionate.
- The student gave an impressive answer to a tough question.
- Their impressive teamwork broke the company record.
- An impressive crowd gathered despite the cold weather.
8. Magnificent
Meaning: grand, splendid, and full of awe-inspiring presence.
When to use it: use magnificent for big, beautiful things with scale — landscapes, buildings, performances.
When to avoid it: avoid it for small or modest things — it demands grandeur.
- The old palace was truly magnificent at sunrise.
- She sang with a magnificent voice that filled the hall.
- The waterfall looked magnificent after the heavy rain.
9. Astounding
Meaning: so surprising and impressive that it is hard to believe.
When to use it: use astounding for facts, results, and events that genuinely shock — like the energy in our excited synonyms guide.
When to avoid it: avoid it for expected good news — it needs a real element of surprise.
- The speed of her recovery was truly astounding.
- Scientists made an astounding discovery in the deep ocean.
- The final score was astounding; nobody predicted it.
10. Spectacular
Meaning: dramatic, exciting, and visually striking.
When to use it: use spectacular for events, shows, and displays that feel like a celebration.
When to avoid it: avoid it for quiet personal qualities like kindness.
- The fireworks display was absolutely spectacular.
- They planned a spectacular party for the anniversary.
- The athlete made a spectacular leap over the bar.
11. Wonderful
Meaning: full of wonder; inspiring delight and joy.
When to use it: use wonderful for warm, heartfelt praise that never sounds forced.
When to avoid it: avoid it when you need a stronger, more dramatic word.
- We had a wonderful weekend visiting the old town.
- She has a wonderful way of calming nervous children.
- That was a wonderful idea — let us try it this Friday.
12. Breathtaking
Meaning: so beautiful or powerful that it seems to stop your breath.
When to use it: use breathtaking for sights and moments that overwhelm the senses.
When to avoid it: avoid it for non-visual topics like ideas or plans.
- The view from the cliff top was simply breathtaking.
- She delivered a breathtaking performance on opening night.
- The photographer captured a breathtaking storm over the sea.

13. Mind-blowing
Meaning: so surprising or impressive that it overwhelms the mind.
When to use it: use mind-blowing in casual, high-energy conversations and posts.
When to avoid it: avoid it in formal writing — it is playful slang.
- The special effects in that movie were honestly mind-blowing.
- She shared a mind-blowing fact about black holes.
- The plot twist at the end was completely mind-blowing.
14. Noteworthy
Meaning: worthy of attention; deserving to be noticed.
When to use it: use noteworthy in professional and academic writing for achievements worth recording.
When to avoid it: avoid it in emotional praise — it is measured, not passionate.
- It is noteworthy that sales doubled in just one quarter.
- Her most noteworthy achievement was founding the charity.
- The report lists several noteworthy trends this year.
15. Memorable
Meaning: worth remembering; leaving a lasting impression.
When to use it: use memorable for experiences and moments that stay with people.
When to avoid it: avoid it for fleeting or forgettable things.
- Their wedding was a truly memorable celebration.
- He gave a memorable speech at the graduation.
- Our trip to the mountains was memorable in every way.
16. Striking
Meaning: powerfully noticeable; attracting immediate attention.
When to use it: use striking for appearances, contrasts, and details that hit you instantly.
When to avoid it: avoid it for subtle qualities that grow on you slowly.
- She has striking green eyes that everyone notices.
- The contrast between the two photos is striking.
- He made a striking entrance in a bright red suit.
17. Marvelous
Meaning: causing great wonder; extremely good.
When to use it: use marvelous for warm, slightly old-fashioned praise with charm.
When to avoid it: avoid it in ultra-modern casual speech, where it can sound dated.
- You did a marvelous job organizing the event.
- The weather was marvelous for our picnic.
- She cooked a marvelous dinner for the whole family.
18. Awe-inspiring
Meaning: filling people with awe, wonder, and deep respect.
When to use it: use awe-inspiring for nature, courage, and art that moves people deeply — see also our hopeful synonyms for uplifting words.
When to avoid it: avoid it for small wins — it is a big-feeling phrase.
- Standing at the canyon edge was truly awe-inspiring.
- Her dedication to the community is awe-inspiring.
- The rocket launch was an awe-inspiring sight.
Formal vs. Casual: Using Remarkable and Its Synonyms in the Right Tone
Some remarkable synonyms belong in boardrooms; others belong in group chats. Match the word to the moment with this table. For more on how synonyms shape meaning, check Wikipedia’s synonym overview.
| Formal word | Casual equivalent | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| Exceptional | Top-notch | “Exceptional / top-notch work.” |
| Noteworthy | Worth mentioning | “A noteworthy / worth-mentioning result.” |
| Extraordinary | Out of this world | “An extraordinary / out-of-this-world talent.” |
| Magnificent | Epic | “A magnificent / epic view.” |
| Astounding | Unreal | “Astounding / unreal speed.” |
| Awe-inspiring | Gave me chills | “An awe-inspiring / gave-me-chills moment.” |
| Marvelous | Awesome | “A marvelous / awesome dinner.” |
| Spectacular | Insane (good) | “A spectacular / insane show.” |
| Striking | Eye-catching | “A striking / eye-catching design.” |
| Phenomenal | Mind-blowing | “Phenomenal / mind-blowing results.” |

4 Common Mistakes When Using Remarkable and Its Synonyms
1. Calling everything “incredible.” When every meal and movie is incredible, none of them are. Reserve big words for big moments, like our powerful synonyms guide suggests for strong language.
2. Using “awesome” for formal praise. Awesome is casual American slang. In a performance review, outstanding or exceptional earns more respect.
3. Mixing up “memorable” and “memorial.” Memorable means worth remembering; memorial honors the dead. A “memorable party” is fun; a “memorial service” is solemn.
4. Overusing “very remarkable.” Remarkable already means notably unusual, so “very remarkable” is weak. Pick a stronger synonym like extraordinary or astounding. Learners discuss this exact habit on r/EnglishLearning.
FAQs About Remarkable Synonyms
What is the strongest synonym for remarkable? Extraordinary and phenomenal carry the most power. They signal something far beyond the ordinary and work best for truly rare achievements.
What is a formal synonym for remarkable? Exceptional and noteworthy fit formal writing perfectly. They praise without sounding emotional or exaggerated.
What is a casual synonym for remarkable? Mind-blowing, epic, and unreal feel natural in casual speech and texts. They bring energy without stiffness.
Can I use “stunning” for a person’s work? Yes, but keep it sensory. Stunning fits visual or performance work best — a stunning design, a stunning speech. For reports, choose outstanding. Grammarly’s synonym advice covers these nuance choices well.
How do I praise someone without sounding fake? Be specific about what impressed you, then add the synonym: “Your exceptional patience with the kids” beats a bare “amazing!” every time. Practice with our unique synonyms and large synonyms guides.
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right Remarkable Synonym
You now hold 18 remarkable synonyms for every kind of praise. Use outstanding at work, stunning for beauty, mind-blowing with friends, and extraordinary when something truly stops you in your tracks. Match the word to the moment, skip the four common mistakes, and your compliments will land with real weight. Ready for more? Continue with our happy synonyms and nice synonyms guides.
