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 It's fitted with suspension kit from Ohlins, enormous 394-mm and 390-mm brake discs in the front and rear respectively, and several bits of aerodynamic bodywork that should allow for nearly 1,300 lb (589kg) of downforce at 150 mph (240 km/h). New Atlas, 4 July 2025 As was divulged on a DVD commentary track from director-writer Roland Emmerich and producer-writer Dean Devlin, the enormous build-up in Pullman's speech was directed just as much at the studio suits. Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 4 July 2025 Formed by the freeze-thaw cycle, when sunshine or the daily temperature melts snow only to have the liquid water freeze back into ice, icicles can grow to an enormous size and come crashing down without warning. Cheryl Vari, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Smith opened as an enormous favorite at -1600, while Price was +900. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for enormous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enormous
Adjective
  • These benefits from huge Green Pine-series radars for early warning and to help cue fire control sensors towards incoming threats.
    Sebastien Roblin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • But this scraping has sparked a huge backlash from publishers, artists and writers, who complain that it has been done without any consent or compensation.
    Billy Perrigo, Time, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • The vast majority of fans in attendance were sporting orange and black.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025
  • And the company behind the bet was Google, which had acquired legacy phone maker Motorola Mobility and was leveraging its modern tech prowess and vast resources to make the Moto X smartphone a success.
    Verne Kopytoff, Fortune, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • With the tremendous uncertainty in the economy, CEOs need to establish budgetary exit ramps that would be fast and easy to implement.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Kling, who grew up in Kansas and turns 68 in October, has overseen a period of tremendous growth for the city.
    Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • On June 30, Netflix premiered its documentary Shark Whisperer, which follows Ocean Ramsey in her unique (and controversial — and viral) approach to marine conservation: swimming freely with gigantic sharks for hours on end.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 4 July 2025
  • Israel doesn’t have any heavy bombers, stealthy or otherwise, capable of carrying such gigantic bombs.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Washington’s foreign aid cuts could lead to an additional 14 million deaths by 2030 as countries scramble to make up for the sudden, massive shortfall.
    Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 1 July 2025
  • In October 2022, BTS performed a massive free concert, titled Yet to Come, in Busan, South Korea.
    Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • The bottom line is that this legislation acts as a giant wealth transfer from the poor to the rich and the young to the old.
    Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • The French American artist, who died in 2010, is best known for her giant sculptures of spiders, including a 20-foot-high bronze creation that sold for $32.8 million in 2023, setting a record-high price for a work by a female artist.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • In an increasingly demanding academic environment, with pressures to publish, secure grants, and manage larger class sizes, the temptation to leverage AI for efficiency is immense.
    Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Mergers and acquisitions involves a small handful of people at these banks so their profit margins will be immense.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • While their native range spans from northern Australia to the Tamil Nadu coast, the Sundarbans play host to a particularly large population, providing plenty of opportunities to spot these colossal reptiles in the flesh.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • That colossal production, which involved the construction of villages in which to film and the onscreen involvement of the host country’s armed forces, began as a lark and turned into an albatross.
    Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enormous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enormous. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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