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 Chinese leader Xi Jinping, by comparison, hasn’t just been building colossal scale in priority sectors — robotics, aerospace, green tech. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The two bodies of water are nestled just north of an area where hundreds of people were killed by colossal landslides on the Nepal-China border on Wednesday. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 In a statement posted on social media, Obama highlighted Parton’s humble roots, colossal impact in music and Hollywood, and her philanthropic work. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026 Phuket, Thailand’s largest island in the Andaman Sea, is home to a colossal 147-foot marble statue known as Big Buddha and revered for its white-sand beaches. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colossal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for colossal

Adjective

Robinson is more like the Carolina McCaffrey though, who was still gigantic.

— Michael Salfino, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
The flavor is overwhelmingly oversized, proving that few things look as luxurious as swimming around in a gigantic khaki coat.

— Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of gigantic

Adjective

The cast’s Blackness is a huge part of this — signifying is in their blood — but the impact spread across the whole franchise.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
That was a play with huge ramifications that, to some extent, still sticks with Williams.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of huge

Adjective

Light can carry enormous amounts of information, and optical connections can offer high bandwidth over relatively long distances.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Perhaps Vance’s affection for Carlson has more to do with holding the loyalty of his friend’s enormous audience.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of enormous

Adjective

Invisible House, a new work by Zosha Di Castri, has the orchestra reveling in bright and jangly sounds like a giant Ukrainian folk band.

— Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
The filmmaker contrasts her bucolic nature scenes with shots of the giant ships passing by and the interiors and exteriors of the factories located near the island, belching smoke and lit up at night like a forbidding theme park.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of giant

Adjective

This is especially stark in robotics, where the problem space is vast and failures play out in the physical world, but the lesson applies to any system that operates at scale.

— Shivansh Inamdar, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Much of this year's equity rally – as well as recent volatility – has been driven by investor enthusiasm around AI development, which has been reliant on vast amounts of capital, as well as optimism around earnings momentum.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of vast

Adjective

For most of the season, Young was a plus defender, and the Mets saw tremendous improvements at the position.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
Merz, a conservative, is facing tremendous pressure in the wake of the far-right AfD's landslide state election victory in Saxony-Anhalt last week.

— Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of tremendous

Adjective

That's the consensus view of music business players who talked to The Associated Press about how mammoth tours like Sheeran's generally work.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
His first hit Sunday in Miami was a mammoth upper-deck shot to right field on the kind of awe-inspiring swing that has come much more easily for De Paula than in years past.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of mammoth

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“Colossal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colossal. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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