monstrous

¹mon·strous

adj \ˈmän(t)-strəs\

Definition of MONSTROUS

1

obsolete : strange, unnatural

2

: having extraordinary often overwhelming size : gigantic

3

a : having the qualities or appearance of a monster b obsolete : teeming with monsters

4

a : extraordinarily ugly or vicious : horrible b : shockingly wrong or ridiculous

5

: deviating greatly from the natural form or character : abnormal

6

: very great —used as an intensive

— mon·strous·ly adverb

— mon·strous·ness noun

Examples of MONSTROUS

1. It was monstrous of him to keep the truth from them all those years.
2. <a monstrous melon that was clearly not fit to eat>

First Known Use of MONSTROUS

15th century

Related to MONSTROUS

Synonyms: deformed, distorted, misshapen, malformed, shapeless

Antonyms: undeformed

Related Words: defaced, disfigured; aberrant, abnormal, freakish, mutant; asymmetrical (or asymmetric), crooked, disproportionate, irregular, lopsided, nonsymmetrical, overbalanced, unbalanced, unequal; horrible, horrific, terrible; ugly, unattractive

Near Antonyms: shapely; flawless, perfect

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of MONSTROUS

monstrous, prodigious, tremendous, stupendous mean extremely impressive. monstrous implies a departure from the normal (as in size, form, or character) and often carries suggestions of deformity, ugliness, or fabulousness <the monstrous waste of the project>. prodigious suggests a marvelousness exceeding belief, usually in something felt as going far beyond a previous maximum (as of goodness, greatness, intensity, or size) <made a prodigious effort and rolled the stone aside>. tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe <the tremendous roar of the cataract>. stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description <a stupendous volcanic eruption>.