monstrosity

noun

mon·​stros·​i·​ty män-ˈsträ-sə-tē 

plural monstrosities

1

a

: a malformation of a plant or animal

b

: something deviating from the normal : freak

2

: the quality or state of being monstrous

the monstrosity of the tsunami's devastation

3

a

: an object of great and often frightening size, force, or complexity

this monstrosity, the atomic bomb

b

: an excessively bad or shocking example

The new mall is an architectural monstrosity.

Synonyms

• abnormality
• anomaly
• freak
• monster

Examples of monstrosity in a Sentence

Did you see the new mall? It's a monstrosity.

any monstrosities born to the farm animals were sent to the agricultural college for study

Recent Examples on the Web

Coop’s former family home, in a neighborhood where houses regularly cost eight figures, is a gray monstrosity, and parties in the community are occasions for exhausting one-upmanship. —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 26 May 2025

Unlike Snow White and the Evil Queen, they’ve been fully animated into CGI monstrosities. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025

The Bulls just worked their way out of the binding of a maximum contract after trading Zach LaVine, so there’s a sizable argument to make against tying themselves to another financial monstrosity. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025

There’s plenty more to be seen inside the monstrosity that is home to the event’s new merchandise shop, a 49,000-square foot facility loaded with gear. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for monstrosity

• atrocity
• ferocity
• pomposity
• porosity
• precocity
• schistosity
• velocity
• verbosity
• viscosity
• animosity
• curiosity
• generosity

Kids Definition

monstrosity

noun

mon·​stros·​i·​ty män-ˈsträs-ət-ē 

plural monstrosities

1

: the condition of being monstrous

2

: something monstrous : monster