Synonym Chooser

How is the word gigantic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of gigantic are colossal, enormous, huge, immense, mammoth, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When is colossal a more appropriate choice than gigantic?

The words colossal and gigantic can be used in similar contexts, but colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How do enormous and immense relate to one another, in the sense of gigantic?

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 might huge be a better fit than gigantic?

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

incurred a huge debt

When could mammoth be used to replace gigantic?

While in some cases nearly identical to gigantic, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When can vast be used instead of gigantic?

In some situations, the words vast and gigantic 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 gigantic Production commences this fall for a release date that will come just three weeks after another gigantic release for Disney: Avengers: Secret Wars. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025 This world feels gigantic and weird in a way few others do. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025 The bathroom could be closed off with sleek pivoting panels and came—like all suites—with a gigantic shower and round bath the size of a Jacuzzi tub. Chris Schaklx, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025 The polar vortex is a gigantic, circular area of cold air high up in the atmosphere that typically spins over the North Pole (as its name suggests). Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gigantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gigantic
Adjective
  • Scammers convince you to take cash to a bitcoin ATM Her story highlights one huge red flag that consumers must watch out for these days — how scammers are convincing you to take cash to a crypto ATM at the local party store, gas station or grocery.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The overall approach—making scientists prove why mining shouldn’t happen in specific parts of a huge area, without the data to do so—frustrated scientists.
    Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Volunteers stirred giant pots of steaming lentils one recent afternoon as people formed a line to receive their portions.
    Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Center a retaining wall around a tree Think of it as a giant tree planter.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Dozens of David Bowie Albums Have Cracked the Top 10 Throughout his unparalleled career, Bowie racked up an enormous number of top 10s on the Official Physical Albums chart.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Then the Giants sent an enormous contingent of coaches and evaluators to Oxford, Miss., the week of March 19 for their own private work with Dart.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The vast majority of people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide – 70% have no further attempts.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • New satellite imagery shows Iran reinforcing a vast underground complex near the country's main uranium enrichment site, according to an analysis by the Institute for Science and International Security.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In Season 1, Cassian was part of a massive prison break and an insurrection against Imperial forces in his home of Ferrix.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • After the first Gulf war, in which the United States defeated the sixth-largest army in six days with very few casualties, analysts assumed that future wars would likely be short and would not require massive stockpiles of basic munitions and materiel.
    MICHAEL BROWN, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Saints received a tremendous pop from the crowd to begin the Stand & Deliver card.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • As a whole, the gig showed Cave’s tremendous artistic range**.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And yet, this colossal level of easement doesn’t have to equate to being underdressed.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The 62-page review has been in the works for months and engaged with a colossal 2,500 BBC employees and freelancers across the UK including 20 production companies that make shows for the BBC.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Over the span of a mammoth, 52-song setlist, the musicians and TDE labelmates traded the stage back and forth and debuted tracks from their newest releases—2024’s GNX and SOS Deluxe: Lana.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 20 Apr. 2025
  • But suffice to say, Snoop gets a dire diagnosis, transports to a battleground set amid giant marijuana plants, gets cozy with a mammoth marijuana bud, dies and visits Tupac, Petty pops in throughout, and Jelly Roll appears in a prison yard, among other wild occurrences.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gigantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gigantic. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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