colossal

adjective

co·​los·​sal kə-ˈlä-səl How to pronounce colossal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a colossus
colossal statues
2
: of a bulk, extent, power, or effect approaching or suggesting the stupendous or incredible
colossal rock formations
colossal stellar explosions
3
: of an exceptional or astonishing degree
a colossal failure
a colossal bore
colossal ambition
colossally adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for colossal

enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large.

enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness.

an enormous expense
an immense shopping mall

huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

Examples of colossal in a Sentence

a colossal statue of the town's founder
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And yet, this colossal level of easement doesn’t have to equate to being underdressed. Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025 The 62-page review has been in the works for months and engaged with a colossal 2,500 BBC employees and freelancers across the UK including 20 production companies that make shows for the BBC. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025 And aside from these colossal creatures, The Wilds also plays a crucial role in North American wildlife conservation, with projects ranging from an American burying beetle breeding program to an initiative dedicated to rearing eastern hellbender salamanders. Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 The left image features the expansive Tharsis plateau and its chain of dormant volcanoes, including the colossal Olympus Mons, which can be seen towering above the Martian clouds. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for colossal

Word History

Etymology

see colossus

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of colossal was in 1664

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colossal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colossal. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

colossal

adjective
co·​los·​sal kə-ˈläs-əl How to pronounce colossal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a colossus
especially : of very great size
a colossal office building
2
: extraordinary, exceptional
colossal growth
a colossal failure
colossally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on colossal

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