Definition of giganticnext

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 At the heart of our home galaxy lurks a gigantic black hole that’s more than a trillion times heavier than Earth, with all that mass stuffed into a region that is about 2,000 times wider than our planet. Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 June 2026 Multiple generations of Neolithic designers relied on communal teamwork and clever construction techniques to precisely place each of the site’s gigantic megaliths about 5,000 years ago. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2026 Reid writhes in front of Zaman, sticking out his tongue in one take, running his hand down his body in another, all while a gigantic technocrane zooms overhead. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 June 2026 The garden fills a grotto on the north side of the gigantic 387-acre West LA campus, which was donated in 1888 specifically for use by veterans. Quil Lawrence, NPR, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gigantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gigantic
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
Adjective
  • According to this theory, those now-extinct megafauna—the giant ground sloths and the giant beavers, the mastodons and mammoths, and even the lions and dire wolves—were relatively quickly hunted to extinction.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • Officials said the events will feature live match broadcasts on giant LED screens, youth soccer clinics, family-friendly games, refreshments, halftime activities and inflatable attractions.
    Kristy Hutchings, Daily News, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Start small with beaded bookmarks or diamond art magnets, or take on a long-term project with enormous pieces of diamond wall art.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
  • And that set off an enormous race, and then of course a trajectory of many labs adopting the technology for all kinds of applications.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 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
Adjective
  • The disappearance of a campground employee in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, has prompted a massive search, authorities said.
    Michael Guise, CBS News, 11 June 2026
  • But there was hope that the world coming to America could bring the kind of unity and joy typical of massive sporting contests like the World Cup.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 June 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
Adjective
  • Set on a colossal ceramic plate crafted by a local architect, and supported internally with steel tubes, this event set a Guinness World Record, solidifying the country’s enthusiasm for the dip.
    Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 June 2026
  • Neolithic peoples, with limited technology, would have had to travel impressive distances to move such a colossal megalith over 435 miles, as researchers determined that the stone originated from the Orcadian Basin in northeastern Scotland.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • Other mammoth rehab projects in the works nearby are expected to help fill vacant offices and revive aging skyscrapers with new apartments and hotel rooms.
    Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
  • The event will take place in a mammoth, claw-like outdoor arena that will spotlight the White House in the background.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gigantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gigantic. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gigantic

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster