Definition of prodigiousnext
1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word prodigious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of prodigious are monstrous, stupendous, and tremendous. While all these words mean "extremely impressive," 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

When is monstrous a more appropriate choice than prodigious?

The meanings of monstrous and prodigious largely overlap; however, 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

When would stupendous be a good substitute for prodigious?

The words stupendous and prodigious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

When might tremendous be a better fit than prodigious?

While the synonyms tremendous and prodigious are close in meaning, tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prodigious Burton said this about an hour after receiving the news that he’d been inducted into this year’s prodigious class. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026 Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s MVP for the second year in a row, is a prodigious wearer of fur coats without irony and sunglasses indoors. Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 19 May 2026 Guy Ritchie is a filmmaker and series creator whose prodigious busyness in terms of both workload and story approach has its compensations. Michael Phillips, Variety, 16 May 2026 The book, out Tuesday, is a unique road map into the prodigious brain of Tyson, who has an ability to blend pop culture with quantum physics. ABC News, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for prodigious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigious
Adjective
  • The campsite is a budget-friendly way to spend a few nights in the area, a wonderful addition given the more luxe vibe of the other spaces that makes this property feel like a real community.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
  • But in general, working with Tim is just wonderful.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • But SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI swelled to tremendous sizes thanks to dollars from private investors, including pension funds, companies and rich investors, away from the public market.
    Stan Choe, Fortune, 13 June 2026
  • Having such a wide variety of on-site entertainment drives tremendous traffic with more than 38 million visits to Yas Island in 2024.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • Still, put in perspective, Spielberg’s cinematic universe over seven decades represents an astonishing range of topics and tensions.
    Peter Bart, Deadline, 18 June 2026
  • Vivid acidity and astonishing freshness frame flavors of lemon zest and Pink Lady apple with a closing note of salinity.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • These are the birthplaces of vast amounts of planets.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 June 2026
  • Because the vast majority of people sickened with salmonella get better without seeing a medical professional, official outbreak counts usually include only a fraction of the number of people actually infected.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • My brother in-law was an incredible husband and an amazing father to their boys.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • Give the audience this amazing look, but the music’s the thread of the whole thing.
    Holly Gleason, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • The assessment, which was based on disruptions, incidents, and violent extremist propaganda, says the potentially enormous crowds make the parade a high priority for lone wolf attackers, the official said.
    Mark Morales, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
  • The mega monsoons, vast deserts, volcanic eruptions, and enormous terrestrial animals and marine life of the turbulent Permian Period feature prominently, as the Earth reaches the brink of ecological collapse.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • The mayor said the Knicks' miraculous comeback in Game 4 typified New York's never-say-die spirit.
    Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 18 June 2026
  • Fresh off their championship victory, the team’s starting five — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges — will join Jimmy Fallon to celebrate their miraculous NBA finals run and taking home the franchise’s first title in 53 years.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • The expectations for the USA are not huge for this tournament – just ask Gary Lineker – but a scintillating performance such as what took place on SoFi Stadium’s turf on Friday night is something that will exhilarate soccer fans and the soccer-curious around the country.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
  • Security is also a huge challenge.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 13 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Prodigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigious. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on prodigious

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster