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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 That’s why one or a few working alone invariably produce so little, while myriad workers working together leads to prodigious amounts of production. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Still, Cornyn, who has trounced past challengers, is a prodigious fundraiser and wields widespread influence as a senior senator. Kayla Guo, ProPublica, 4 Apr. 2025 The prodigious child of Salzburg had become a dominant figure in European classical music. David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025 What in the name of Hank Greenberg, Cecil Fielder and Miguel Cabrera happened to the Tigers’ prodigious power? Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prodigious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigious
Adjective
  • Simple sleep hygiene shifts can make a tremendous improvement.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 1 May 2025
  • The Blazers, in my opinion, have a tremendous frontcourt of the future with Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan.
    Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Washington Capitals, won 4-1 against Montreal Last week: 7 Sean: 4 Dom: 9 Pierre-Luc Dubois had a fine first round, but zero goals and two assists were still a step down from his wonderful regular season.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • The wonderful thing is that Carrie Preston is wonderful with everybody.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Finding the house was an enormous challenge for McBride and locations manager Kale Murphy; initial candidates weren’t distinct enough from the Gemstones’ other residences, and the search took so long McBride nearly called HBO to request a pause in production.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 5 May 2025
  • With Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs, many countries had limited recourse for retaliation because the U.S. trade deficit on physical goods in nearly all nations is so enormous.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • This is the astonishing dialectical power of the moment.
    D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Tom Hanks narrates this examination of the astonishing variety of life on a supercontinent stretching from northern Canada to the bottom of South America.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • From raw material cultivation to textile finishing, nearly every stage of production relies on manufacturers’ access to vast quantities of clean, affordable water.
    Ken Katz, Sourcing Journal, 5 May 2025
  • So far, the vast majority (around 97%) of cases in 2025 have been in people who had no record of being vaccinated.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • Midway through game three, Agassi was clearly winded from playing in the oppressive Florida humidity, but after an amazing rally at 7-7 in the third the teenagers capitulated and Waters/Agassi were able to win and move forward.
    Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Thank you to our amazing cast, crew, and producers and writers!
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • By the time the teams play, Mikel Arteta’s side will either be in a buoyant mood, having edged past Paris Saint-Germain to reach the Champions League final in Munich, or flat, their season of huge promise having failed to deliver silverware.
    Tom Burrows, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • The huge sinkhole in the road not far from Tokyo was caused by corroded sewage pipes, ABC News and The Japan Times reported.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • But there would be no miraculous comeback on this night in Fort Lauderdale.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 1 May 2025
  • From Moscow’s vantage point, the past three months have been miraculous: Putin can now envision a path to win the war in Ukraine, a possibility that did not exist three months ago because the United States was blocking its way.
    Eric Green, Time, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prodigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigious. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

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