monumental

adjective

mon·​u·​men·​tal ˌmän-yə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

: serving as or resembling a monument : massive

monumental sculptures

also : highly significant : outstanding

a monumental painting that stunned the American public

2

: of or relating to a monument

modern monumental architecture

3

: very great

a monumental misunderstanding

monumentality

ˌmän-yə-mən-ˈta-lə-tē 

-ˌmen-

noun

monumentally

ˌmän-yə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms of monumental

• magnificent
• epic
• glorious
• imposing
• massive
• majestic
• grand
• proud
• colossal

Examples of monumental in a Sentence

It's more than a mistake; it's a case of monumental stupidity.

the monumental complexity of the issue

Repairing the damage will be a monumental task.

The class was about modern monumental architecture.

Recent Examples on the Web

He was thrown in the Andrean sectional game in baseball this last season, which is a monumental task, so he’s relied upon in multiple sports. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Joshua Reynolds’s monumental 18th-century portrait of Mai, a young Tahitian man who arrived in London with Captain Cook in 1774, will soon make its West Coast debut, the Los Angeles Times reports. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The councilmember acknowledged the overhaul of Hopkins Street was a monumental decision, one that would reshape transportation on one of the major thoroughfares connecting East and West Berkeley. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

At first, her escapades to slow down reporting Alice’s monumental find provide a good deal of levity. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for monumental

• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental
• incidental
• incremental
• instrumental
• interdental
• nonjudgmental

Kids Definition

monumental

adjective

mon·​u·​men·​tal ˌmän-yə-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

: of or relating to a monument

2

: serving as or resembling a monument : massive

also : highly significant : outstanding

3

: very great

monumental stupidity

monumentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb