COLOSSAL Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'colossal' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of colossal are enormous , gigantic , huge , immense , mammoth , and vast . While all these words mean "exceedingly large," colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions. // a colossal statue of Lincoln

Q: How are the words 'enormous' and 'immense' related as synonyms of 'colossal'?

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

Q: When could 'gigantic' be used to replace 'colossal'?

In some situations, the words gigantic and colossal are roughly equivalent. However, gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind. // a gigantic sports stadium

Q: When can 'huge' be used instead of 'colossal'?

Although the words huge and colossal have much in common, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount. // incurred a huge debt

Q: When would 'mammoth' be a good substitute for 'colossal'?

While in some cases nearly identical to colossal , mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk. // a mammoth boulder

Q: When is 'vast' a more appropriate choice than 'colossal'?

The words vast and colossal can be used in similar contexts, but vast usually suggests immensity of extent. // the vast Russian steppes

colossal

adjective

kə-ˈlä-səl

Definition of colossal

as in gigantic

unusually large a colossal statue of the town's founder

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word colossal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of colossal are enormous, gigantic, huge, immense, mammoth, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How are the words enormous and immense related as synonyms of colossal?

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

When could gigantic be used to replace colossal?

In some situations, the words gigantic and colossal are roughly equivalent. However, gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When can huge be used instead of colossal?

Although the words huge and colossal have much in common, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

When would mammoth be a good substitute for colossal?

While in some cases nearly identical to colossal, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When is vast a more appropriate choice than colossal?

The words vast and colossal can be used in similar contexts, but vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

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 colossal In an effort to deepen its relationship with Asia, Chanel has unveiled the latest edition of La Galerie du 19M Shanghai project at the Museum of Art Pudong — a colossal white structure on the Huangpu River. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026 Trump’s Arch will commemorate his overnight mugging of Venezuela and his colossal misadventures in Iran. — Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026 The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a colossal pet project by the man who invented the Star Wars franchise, makes no apologies for looking like a spaceship arrived from outer space. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026 Like much else in Guatemala, the colossal, mint-green presidential palace where Arévalo sat down with me is a holdover from a bygone era of authoritarianism. — Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colossal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for colossal

Adjective

Or Mitch Moreland hits a gigantic late-inning homer in game four of a World Series game to make that series 3-1 instead of 2-2.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Still, a gigantic price target hike to $1,000 from $796 prior, representing 35% upside.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of gigantic

Adjective

Thorton had the first two-touchdown game of his career and made the huge catch to set up the go-ahead touchdown before the injury.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
This deprived the treasurers of huge assets that otherwise could have been invested to generate billions of dollars for the pensions — a gap present-day taxpayers must fill.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of huge

Adjective

First developed in the 1950s, this aircraft has an enormous weapon payload capacity and intercontinental range.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
On top of store closures and unsold inventory, the company was choking on enormous debt from a private equity buyout in 2014.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of enormous

Adjective

Most of the time, Mark just flails, complains, and pouts like a giant baby, and Affleck’s twitchy, rapid-fire delivery can’t give the character any life or depth.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
If a crack reaches a giant zucchini’s internal cavity, the zucchini — known as marrow by growers — is disqualified.

— Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of giant

Adjective

Questions remain over how the Premier League could create competitive balance, given the vast differences in spending ability between its biggest clubs and smaller challengers.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Halzen had the idea to turn the vast Antarctic ice into such a detector.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of vast

Adjective

On Monday, stand-up comedians on social media launched a massive awareness campaign to pressure one of their own, Sebastian Maniscalco, to reconsider recent programming decisions at his SiriusXM radio station, Sebastian Maniscalco’s Comedy Radio.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
The whole story unfolds within a massive narrative arc that spans the roughly 20 years of the hunt for the Monster.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of massive

Adjective

What is already clear is the tremendous talent across our organization and our shared mission to deepen and extend our fans’ emotional connection to our iconic brands and franchises through high-quality products and stories.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
The museum brought a tremendous wow factor that cities around the world were soon clamoring to imitate.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of tremendous

Adjective

At the height of Bratmania, Charli XCX opted for a co-headlining tour with Troye Sivan where she went hit for hit with the Australian dance-pop prodigy, who was not quite having the same sort of mammoth run.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
With the first movement of dirt, this mammoth project is finally underway.

— Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of mammoth

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“Colossal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colossal. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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