Definition of enormousnext

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 In the wake of this enormous Olympic win, maybe grief can be a bit easier for Shiffrin. Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026 To my enormous embarrassment and regret I, like many others, was duped by a world-class con man. Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026 In the rapidly evolving world of engineering technology, professionals devote enormous energy to such tasks as mastering the latest frameworks, optimizing architectures, and refining machine learning models. Angelique Parashis, IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026 Vaccine manufacturing requires years of investment, complex global supply chains, and enormous financial risk. Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enormous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enormous
Adjective
  • The residences are huge, and the life is peaceful – at least west of Kyiv.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The Gardens are relatively easy to navigate, but huge and sprawling.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Aid groups say the true war death toll could be many times higher, as the fighting in vast and remote areas impedes access.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The sponsors said the vast majority of Floridians would have their citizenship checked seamlessly by matching the voter registration database with REAL ID records maintained by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the state driver license agency.
    Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • There is a tremendous drive to acquire money to support the work of faculty and staff.
    Brian Herman, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
  • As in most deals that appear to be too good to be true, there is a tremendous cost to this tax credit program.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Lurking behind is the orange and white bulk of the Artemis 2 Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, which sits unseen in this photo at the white tip of the gigantic launch vehicle.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The Anterselva Biathlon Arena is a legit sporting stadium, with thousands of permanent seats, a gigantic video board, VIP seating areas and a vast network of tunnels connecting it all.
    Zack Pierce, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Privacy concerns about using massive DNA databases in law enforcement investigations continue – especially for services that exist mostly to satisfy people’s personal curiosity about their heritage.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Avalanches are rapid, massive slides of snow, ice, rock and soil that can be caused by storms, earthquakes or snowpack deterioration.
    Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • So yeah, who is going to go into the Olympics, with everything that’s at stake, with the world shifting and media behavior, constantly shifting, and be absolutely confident that that big, giant American audience is going to reassemble?
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Longtime readers may remember a proposal to recreate the experience of standing on the the Moon inside a giant spherical structure here on Earth.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Minutewomen coach Rebecca Trachsel and her girls were thrilled with the colossal win.
    Hannah Hughes, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The European Southern Observatory has released a new view of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), as its colossal outer dome nears completion at Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The absolute security that George felt about his own social position, plus some liberal impulse stirring within him, led him to want to take down the barriers that the Mardi Gras krewes—social organizations of immense prestige—had erected against Jews, at least on behalf of the Lemanns.
    Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Technology isn’t just a linchpin of the economy; the immense personal wealth of its creators has — perhaps unfortunately — become a crucial source of revenue for the state.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Enormous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enormous. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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