Glory vs. Grace — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 17, 2024
"Glory" denotes great admiration or praise due to achievements, while "grace" refers to elegance, poise, or unmerited favor, often with a sense of effortless beauty or kindness.
Difference Between Glory and Grace
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Key Differences
Glory is associated with great honor and admiration often due to achievements or notable deeds. It conveys a sense of magnificence and recognition. Grace, on the other hand, is more about elegance and effortless beauty, as well as kindness and favor that is given freely. Grace can be seen in a dancer's fluid movements or in someone's polite and courteous behavior.
While glory is often externally recognized and celebrated, grace is usually a more internal quality, appreciated for its subtlety and refinement. Glory can be loud and public, often accompanied by applause and accolades, whereas grace is quiet, understated, and gentle, noted for its refinement and dignified presence.
In religious contexts, glory often refers to the divine magnificence of a deity, while grace denotes the benevolence and mercy extended by the divine to humanity. Glory is something that can be strived for and earned, while grace is typically viewed as a gift that cannot be earned but is freely given.
The pursuit of glory can drive people to accomplish great feats and earn widespread recognition. In contrast, living with grace often involves a focus on humility, kindness, and maintaining an elegant demeanor in all situations.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Great admiration or praise due to achievements
Elegance, poise, or unmerited favor
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Recognition
External, public admiration
Internal, subtle appreciation
Context
Achievements, notable deeds
Elegance, kindness, divine favor
Nature
Loud, celebrated
Quiet, understated
Religious Meaning
Divine magnificence
Benevolence and mercy
Compare with Definitions
Glory
Great honor or praise.
The soldier returned home in glory after the battle.
Grace
Elegance or beauty of form.
The ballerina moved with grace across the stage.
Glory
Magnificence or splendor.
The sunrise displayed its full glory over the horizon.
Grace
Courtesy and goodwill.
He showed great grace in forgiving her mistake.
Glory
High renown for achievements.
She basked in the glory of her scientific discovery.
Grace
A charming trait or accomplishment.
Her writing style had a particular grace to it.
Glory
Divine radiance.
The temple was said to reflect the glory of the gods.
Grace
Smoothness and ease of movement.
He caught the falling vase with graceful ease.
Glory
Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
Grace
Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
Glory
Something conferring honor or renown.
Grace
A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
Glory
A highly praiseworthy asset
Your wit is your crowning glory.
Grace
A sense of fitness or propriety.
Glory
Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
Grace
A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
Glory
Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence
The sun set in a blaze of glory.
Grace
Mercy; clemency.
Glory
The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
Grace
A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
Glory
A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity
Ancient Rome in its greatest glory.
Grace
A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
Glory
A halo, nimbus, or aureole. Also called gloriole.
Grace
Graces Greek & Roman Mythology Three sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.
Glory
To rejoice triumphantly; exult
A sports team that gloried in its hard-won victory.
Grace
Divine favor bestowed freely on people, as in granting redemption from sin.
Glory
Great beauty and splendor.
Grace
The state of having received such favor.
Glory
Honour, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common consent to a person or thing; high reputation; renown.
Grace
An excellence or power granted by God.
Glory
That quality in a person or thing which secures general praise or honour.
Grace
A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.
Glory
Worship or praise.
Grace
Grace Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.
Glory
An optical phenomenon, consisting of concentric rings and somewhat similar to a rainbow, caused by sunlight or moonlight interacting with the water droplets that compose mist or clouds, centered on the antisolar or antilunar point.
Grace
(Music) An appoggiatura, trill, or other musical ornament in the music of 16th and 17th century England.
Glory
Victory; success.
Grace
To honor or favor
You grace our table with your presence.
Glory
An emanation of light supposed to shine from beings that are specially holy. It is represented in art by rays of gold, or the like, proceeding from the head or body, or by a disk, or a mere line.
Grace
To give beauty, elegance, or charm to.
Glory
(theology) The manifestation of the presence of God as perceived by humans in Abrahamic religions.
Grace
(Music) To embellish with grace notes.
Glory
(obsolete) Pride; boastfulness; arrogance.
Grace
Charming, pleasing qualities.
The Princess brought grace to an otherwise dull and boring party.
Glory
To exult with joy; to rejoice.
Grace
(countable) A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.
It has become less common to say grace before having dinner.
Glory
To boast; to be proud.
Grace
In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
Glory
To shine radiantly.
Grace
A grace note.
Glory
Praise, honor, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common consent to a person or thing; high reputation; honorable fame; renown.
Glory to God in the highest.
Spread his glory through all countries wide.
Grace
(uncountable) Elegant movement; balance or poise.
The dancer moved with grace and strength.
Glory
That quality in a person or thing which secures general praise or honor; that which brings or gives renown; an object of pride or boast; the occasion of praise; excellency; brilliancy; splendor.
Think it no glory to swell in tyranny.
Jewels lose their glory if neglected.
Your sex's glory 't is to shine unknown.
Grace
An allowance of time granted to a debtor during which he or she is free of at least part of his normal obligations towards the creditor.
The repayment of the loan starts after a three-year grace.
Glory
Pride; boastfulness; arrogance.
In glory of thy fortunes.
Grace
Free and undeserved favour, especially of God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin.
Glory
The presence of the Divine Being; the manifestations of the divine nature and favor to the blessed in heaven; celestial honor; heaven.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Grace
An act or decree of the governing body of an English university.
Glory
An emanation of light supposed to proceed from beings of peculiar sanctity. It is represented in art by rays of gold, or the like, proceeding from the head or body, or by a disk, or a mere line.
Grace
(transitive) To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
He graced the room with his presence.
He graced the room by simply being there.
His portrait graced a landing on the stairway.
Glory
To exult with joy; to rejoice.
Glory ye in his holy name.
Grace
(transitive) To dignify or raise by an act of favour; to honour.
Glory
To boast; to be proud.
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
No one . . . should glory in his prosperity.
Grace
(transitive) To supply with heavenly grace.
Glory
A state of high honor;
He valued glory above life itself
Grace
To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
Glory
Brilliant radiant beauty;
The glory of the sunrise
Grace
The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.
To bow and sue for graceWith suppliant knee.
Glory
An indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
Grace
The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works.
My grace is sufficicnt for thee.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.
Glory
Rejoice proudly
Grace
The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as pardon.
Glory
A source of great admiration.
The championship trophy was the team's glory.
Grace
Fortune; luck; - used commonly with hard or sorry when it means misfortune.
Grace
Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.
He is complete in feature and in mind.With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
I have formerly given the general character of Mr. Addison's style and manner as natural and unaffected, easy and polite, and full of those graces which a flowery imagination diffuses over writing.
Grace
Beauty, physical, intellectual, or moral; loveliness; commonly, easy elegance of manners; perfection of form.
Grace in women gains the affections sooner, and secures them longer, than any thing else.
I shall answer and thank you again For the gift and the grace of the gift.
Grace
Graceful and beautiful females, sister goddesses, represented by ancient writers as the attendants sometimes of Apollo but oftener of Venus. They were commonly mentioned as three in number; namely, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, and were regarded as the inspirers of the qualities which give attractiveness to wisdom, love, and social intercourse.
The Graces love to weave the rose.
The Loves delighted, and the Graces played.
Grace
The title of a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England.
How fares your Grace !
Grace
Thanks.
Yielding graces and thankings to their lord Melibeus.
Grace
A petition for grace; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered, before or after a meal.
Grace
Ornamental notes or short passages, either introduced by the performer, or indicated by the composer, in which case the notation signs are called grace notes, appeggiaturas, turns, etc.
Grace
An act, vote, or decree of the government of the institution; a degree or privilege conferred by such vote or decree.
Grace
A play designed to promote or display grace of motion. It consists in throwing a small hoop from one player to another, by means of two sticks in the hands of each. Called also grace hoop or hoops.
That day of grace fleets fast away.
The grace cup follows to his sovereign's health.
To [Queen Margaret, of Scotland] . . . we owe the custom of the grace drink, she having established it as a rule at her table, that whosoever staid till grace was said was rewarded with a bumper.
Content to do the profession some grace.
What might have been done with a good grace would at leastbe done with a bad grace.
Grace
To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
Great Jove and Phoebus graced his noble line.
We are graced with wreaths of victory.
Grace
To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.
He might, at his pleasure, grace or disgrace whom he wouldin court.
Grace
To supply with heavenly grace.
Grace
To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
Grace
(Bhristian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who under such divine influence;
The conception of grace developed alongside the conception of sin
It was debated whether saving grace could be obtained outside the membership of the church
The Virgin lived in a state of grace
Grace
Elegance and beauty of movement or expression
Grace
A sense of propriety and consideration for others
Grace
A disposition to kindness and compassion; benign good will;
The victor's grace in treating the vanquished
Grace
(Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors
Grace
A short prayer of thanks before a meal
Grace
(Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God;
God's grace is manifested in the salvation of sinners
There but for the grace of God go I
Grace
Make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.;
Decorate the room for the party
Beautify yourself for the special day
Grace
Be beautiful to look at;
Flowers adorned the tables everywhere
Grace
Divine favor or mercy.
They believed they were saved by the grace of God.
Common Curiosities
Is grace something that can be earned?
No, grace is typically seen as a gift or unmerited favor.
How is grace typically perceived?
Grace is perceived as an internal quality, appreciated for its subtlety and refinement.
What is the primary difference between glory and grace?
Glory refers to great admiration or praise due to achievements, while grace denotes elegance, poise, or unmerited favor.
Can glory be earned?
Yes, glory is often earned through notable deeds or achievements.
How is glory manifested in everyday life?
Glory is seen in achievements that receive widespread recognition, like winning an award.
What is an example of glory in a religious context?
In religion, glory often refers to the magnificence and radiance of a deity.
Is grace more likely to be publicly celebrated or quietly appreciated?
Grace is more likely to be quietly appreciated for its subtle qualities.
Does glory always involve competition?
Often, but not necessarily; glory can also come from acts of bravery or significant contributions.
Is glory more external or internal?
Glory is more external, involving public admiration and recognition.
How does grace manifest in behavior?
Grace manifests in behavior through elegance, kindness, and courteous actions.
Can grace be associated with physical movement?
Yes, grace is often associated with smoothness and ease of movement.
How do glory and grace differ in terms of pursuit?
Glory is often actively pursued through effort and accomplishment, while grace is more about maintaining elegance and kindness effortlessly.
What does grace signify in religious terms?
Grace signifies divine favor or mercy given to humanity.
What kind of recognition accompanies glory?
Glory is usually accompanied by public accolades and widespread admiration.
Can someone possess both glory and grace?
Yes, someone can be recognized for their achievements (glory) and exhibit elegance and kindness (grace).
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited 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.
