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 Having an enormous blowup has never kept Taylor and Dakota from hooking up before. Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026 Moving selection weekend to the Hyatt Regency had been an enormous success. Bill Hancock, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026 In 2016, an enormous sinkhole appeared on a five-lane street in Hakata, Japan. CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026 On the other hand, from a cultural perspective, there’s little doubt that the city represents an enormous contribution to urbanism and architecture. Sophia La Banca, JSTOR Daily, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enormous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enormous
Adjective
  • Everyone’s broken, so the collective strength of the cast in keeping us on our toes about where this is all headed is a huge plus.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Rich-girl flip-flops Flip-flops underwent a huge glow-up last summer, graduating from a beachside afterthought to a genuine fashion statement.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The vast majority of the strikes against internal security services thus far have been conducted by the United States.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • In the years following Deng Xiaoping’s turn toward a capitalist economy, some Chinese intellectuals felt a kind of spiritual malaise; Deng’s reforms had failed to provide moral direction for a vast and proud former empire.
    Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • District 6 has tremendous real estate that has yet to be developed.
    Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
  • And just four companies hold 90% of California’s refining capacity, giving them tremendous market power.
    Paasha Mahdavi, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Their next album has to hit harder than the last, their growing Street Mob Records roster depends on their vision for the label, and a gigantic tour leaves no room for mistakes.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
  • But California’s high cost of living is a gigantic gripe.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • There are plenty of common spaces to lounge about in, from the bar to the restaurant (Macondo, which feels like a massive, beachy living room) to the beach cabanas.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Both massive aircraft can act as the president’s emergency operations hub in times of national security threats, such as a nuclear war.
    Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Elsewhere, German autos giant BMW said Thursday that net profit for 2025 exceeded 7 billion euros, slightly above the consensus estimate compiled by LSEG.
    Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Walking among the colorful, striped geological layers feels like stepping inside a giant painting made by nature itself.
    Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Chief Executive David Zaslav and his team have worked feverishly to pay down the colossal debt that came from Discovery’s 2022 takeover of the larger WarnerMedia.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Jetavanaramaya, a colossal fourth-century Sri Lankan monument, was once among the world’s largest structures.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • For all four players, the experience carries an immense honor.
    Samantha Rivera, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The undertaking, however, is immense and extremely expensive.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Enormous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enormous. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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