enormous 1 of 2

Definition of enormousnext

enormousness

2 of 2

noun

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
Adjective
Identifying the fishes often felt like solving an enormous puzzle. Sanaa El-Sayed, The Conversation, 4 June 2026 Dicot trees, on the other hand, may feature gargantuan, columnar trunks meant to support an enormous canopy. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026 According to a recent study published in the journal Science, these enormous cephalopods would have been some of the biggest marine creatures of the Cretaceous Period and might have been the largest invertebrates ever. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 June 2026 This heritage can be felt everywhere, from the original kitchen (now reception) where the current owners’ grandmother used to sit, to the enormous vegetable garden that supplies the kitchen each day. Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enormous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enormous
Adjective
  • Ciber ’s team work quickly under netting to mount a huge Browning heavy machine gun onto tank tracks.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • The eighth-inning bomb was huge, too.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Eisenhower, in particular, felt the magnitude of D-day.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
  • But their data showed this substitution was concentrated in urban areas and didn’t fully account for the magnitude of the effects.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • With elevations ranging from 5,500 feet to nearly 13,000 feet, the varied topography of the forest provides a vast playground suited for every season.
    Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • This is a place defined by vast open spaces, minimal human footprint, and a profound sense of connection to nature.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • These challenges are why solar sails aren't yet plying the vastness of space.
    Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 31 May 2026
  • Here’s a swashbuckling Zen space opera of irresistible vastness — a world large enough to colonize your imagination.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • In turn, entering large numbers of guesses requires a tremendous amount of time and computing resources, even when the cracking is performed using GPUs or special-purpose hardware.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
  • The 25th installment of the Tribeca Festival runs June 3-14 throughout New York City, boasting a tremendous music slate, with icons including Madonna, Earth, Wind & Fire and Peter Frampton premiering music films.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Fraser’s explosive performance underlines the immensity of the stakes, balancing every precarious element of this enormous mission.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
  • After a day pondering the immensity of Tikal, the lake becomes more than scenery.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • Chatter about Donald, 35, has been rampant since last week, when the Rams made another gigantic offseason move by trading for defensive end Myles Garrett.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
  • Clearly, that gigantic number signals investors’ confidence in the future growth and profitability of AI.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Nowhere in the vestiges of what was once the sprawl of corporate hugeness known as The General Electric Company are there signs that Katharine Blodgett's laboratory notebooks still exist.
    Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Like Phish or Taylor Swift or The Dead, 21P have created a universe for their fans that is a self-sustaining mechanism, even if the hugeness of it doesn’t always translate into huge chart success.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enormous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enormous. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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