mountainous

adjective

moun·​tain·​ous ˈmau̇n-tə-nəs 

ˈmau̇nt-nəs

1

: containing many mountains

2

: resembling a mountain : huge

mountainously adverb

mountainousness noun

Synonyms

• astronomical
• astronomic
• Brobdingnagian
• bumper
• colossal
• cosmic
• cosmical
• cyclopean
• elephantine
• enormous
• galactic
• gargantuan
• giant
• gigantesque
• gigantic
• grand
• herculean
• heroic
• heroical
• Himalayan
• huge
• humongous
• humungous
• immense
• jumbo
• king-size
• king-sized
• leviathan
• mammoth
• massive
• mega
• mighty
• monster
• monstrous
• monumental
• oceanic
• pharaonic
• planetary
• prodigious
• super
• super-duper
• supersize
• supersized
• titanic
• tremendous
• vast
• vasty
• walloping
• whacking
• whopping

Examples of mountainous in a Sentence

the seemingly mountainous obstacles he had to overcome while growing up

Recent Examples on the Web

Southern California’s mosaic of lush forests and mountainous peaks is smoldering under the weight of an unprecedented wildfire crisis. —Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024

The mountainous terrain gives way to a challenging game, but players of all levels are welcome — and they’re regularly rewarded with incredible views. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2024

The town is gently shaken by the arrival of Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico), a Sicilian soldier who has crossed the mountainous terrain with a child on his back. —Leila Latif, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2024

Save everything for offline use Cell service can come and go with no warning, especially in mountainous regions of the West. —Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mounteynous, borrowed from Anglo-French muntaignus, from muntaigne, mountaigne mountain + -us -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

mountainous

adjective

moun·​tain·​ous ˈmau̇nt-ᵊn-əs 

-nəs

1

: having many mountains

2

: resembling a mountain : huge