Synonym Chooser

How is the word enormous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of enormous are colossal, gigantic, huge, immense, mammoth, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," 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 would colossal be a good substitute for enormous?

While in some cases nearly identical to enormous, colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

Where would gigantic be a reasonable alternative to enormous?

The synonyms gigantic and enormous are sometimes interchangeable, but gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When could huge be used to replace enormous?

While the synonyms huge and enormous are close in meaning, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

When might mammoth be a better fit than enormous?

Although the words mammoth and enormous have much in common, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When can vast be used instead of enormous?

In some situations, the words vast and enormous are roughly equivalent. However, 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 enormous There’s the feeling that this is all just another day at the office, albeit one with enormous gladiators wandering around in the background. Richard Lawson, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025 Brazil Nuts Just a small handful of Brazil nuts is enough to reap enormous nutritional benefits. Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 1 Oct. 2025 In the process, Stiller turns the camera on himself and his family to examine Jerry and Anne’s enormous influence on their lives. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025 Avi Schiffmann, the 22-year-old creator of Friend, told Fortune that the ad campaign cost him $1 million—an enormous outlay for a startup with barely $7 million in venture capital. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enormous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enormous
Adjective
  • The San Francisco 49ers continue to deal with a huge number of injuries, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The victory by the Crimson Tide was a huge relief for coach Kalen DeBoer after a season-opening loss to Florida State.
    Erick Smith, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Data center demand has surged in recent years, largely driven by the explosion in AI workloads, which require vast computing power, electrical power, cooling and networking infrastructure.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Future plans for Maya’s Cookies include a third brick-and-mortar location, possibly in Los Angeles, where Madsen said the company gets a vast amount of online orders.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • While the Surrey Hotel has a tremendous reputation throughout New York City, behind its façade of class and elegance exists a troubling picture of exploitation.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Ending the war and bringing the hostages home have tremendous domestic support, but not from the far-right lawmakers who are crucial to keeping the prime minister in power.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Patriots cruising into halftime with a gigantic lead.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Here, slowly being swallowed by vegetation and worn down by time, are gigantic mausoleums, vast underground cisterns, temples, imposing city walls and a breathtaking theater perched, like Machu Picchu, on a hilltop that offers views stretching for miles all around.
    Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The year Goldberg-Polin and her family arrived in Israel, the country launched Operation Cast Lead, a massive military operation aimed at halting intensifying Hamas mortar, missile and rocket fire terrorizing southern Israeli communities.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Roan performs on a set that looks like a massive Gothic castle with a drawbridge, parapets and a throne.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • A little further out, there’s a much more conventional factory site, where giant industrial mixers mass-produce the Firmenich scents.
    Peter Vanham, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Those weeks saw students, pensioners, veterans, doctors and teachers stand in freezing temperatures around giant stages, teaching politicians that this was not a crowd to lead, but one to follow.
    Nick Spicer, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The fallout from his injury is immense.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Restructuring on this scale presents immense challenges for employees.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Sonar revealed ancient relics along the sea floor, including a series of colossal structures standing 20 feet high and arranged in rows, as well as several anchors and amphora.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
  • In the mountains of central China, a colossal antenna system stretches across the landscape.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enormous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enormous. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on enormous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!