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

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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 Whitney Houston’s powerhouse version stands alone, but Dolly’s quieter, mournful ode to her collaboration with Porter Wagoner is the artful, formative sketch to a colossal mural. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Scientists may have uncovered evidence of a colossal ancient cliff that stretched across much of North America and helped expose rocks now visible deep inside the Grand Canyon hundreds of millions of years before the modern canyon formed. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026 Brand New Day’s colossal success can’t just be attributed to the hero’s appeal, however. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 His own aesthetic at Serpentine leans whimsical and colossal. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colossal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for colossal

Adjective

Or mapping a gigantic sailboat mural on the wall of her living room.

— Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Kneeling beside the fallen buck, Charles, an avid trophy bowhunter, ran his hands over the gigantic rack.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of gigantic

Adjective

Tucker is being counted on as a middle-of-the-order presence, but the enormous contract has made every prolonged downturn more difficult to ignore.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
The researchers argue that the enormous cliff system triggered prolonged erosion that stripped away vast amounts of rock and helped expose some of North America’s oldest geological formations.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of enormous

Adjective

What’s more, engineers will also be able to use the giant crane in the growing offshore wind industry.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
The filming site was an empty office building in Fremont, California, and the explosion was real; pyrotechnician Tom Fisher used hundreds of gallons of gas to create that giant fireball.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of giant

Adjective

South Florida’s vast Caribbean diaspora knows that consuls general come and go.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Dark matter and dark energy, also not yet directly observed, together are the source of the vast majority of energy in the universe, but their physical natures are unknown.

— Don Figer, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of vast

Adjective

However, fundraising on such a massive scale has also heightened market concerns over long-term capacity oversupply.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Trump then argued that a massive renovation of the building can’t be completed without his fundraising – and recognition for it with his name on the building and grounds – even though Congress appropriated $257 million for the project.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of massive

Adjective

But Coyote has hitched his hopes for the mammoth case upon a man who could only be called a coward.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Warships, mammoth bones and parts of ancient constructions all have emerged from the slumping waters of the Danube, the Rhine and other rivers in the scorching drought that has also disrupted trade, power and water supplies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of mammoth

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“Colossal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colossal. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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