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 Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, has correspondingly gigantic storms, with some of these lasting for centuries. Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026 Something else Krasley observed was that the factories didn’t embark on one gigantic, expensive retrofit, but rather took a stepwise approach to accumulating cooling improvements that was easier on their bottom lines. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2026 The Space Launch System (SLS) is the gigantic rocket NASA developed specifically for its Artemis lunar program, which the agency's ambitious campaign to put astronauts back on the moon for the first time since 1972. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026 Her trademark mix of stratospheric vocals, whiplash sound design, and electronic beats is in full force, her gigantic productions embellished by co-producers James Ford and Hudson Mohawke, with Jacques Greene among the additional producers. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gigantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gigantic
Adjective
  • Video from Chopper 2 shows the huge animal lying in the sand at the Queens beach Thursday.
    Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • But, if the goal was to draw attention, the Weather Underground’s bombing campaign was a huge success.
    Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Even if giant, enormous voids with no stars and galaxies in them at all did exist, this structure couldn’t possibly be one of those.
    Big Think, Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The rockets would be coming from SpaceX’s Starbase in South Texas, which is both a corporate headquarters and production facility for the giant Starship, a critical part of NASA’s Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon.
    Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Even if giant, enormous voids with no stars and galaxies in them at all did exist, this structure couldn’t possibly be one of those.
    Big Think, Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Wall Street’s footprint in New York remains enormous.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Francine Russo, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Despite standing at 6-foot-2 and playing a game more suited for a forward six inches taller, Payton entered Friday night having made 16 consecutive field goals, the vast majority of them being opportunistic dunks and layups off smart cuts and putbacks.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Starting overnight from Monday to Tuesday, Kremlin forces attacked Ukraine in three massive waves, the Ukrainian air force said, initially launching nearly 400 drones and more than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Israel destroyed roughly 70% of its massive arsenal of around 150,000 missiles in the last war, but the arsenal that remains is still formidable.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The research is already showing tremendous results.
    Etiido Uko March 28, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The ball went into Wallace-Johnson — second on the team with 19 points, while Ichima Idoko had 23 — but Hill played tremendous defense keeping the ball in the DeLaSalle backcourt before Chatman’s clinching steal in the final second.
    Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • In order to get the money for these unprecedented projects, data-center providers are beginning to take on colossal amounts of debt.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Brecher's image reveals the 30-light-year-wide emission nebula NGC 2359, whose bubble-like form was sculpted by the stellar wind blasting out from the colossal Wolf-Rayet star at its heart.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Now most of the great passenger railroads have withered and died, and they have been replaced by Amtrak, which has mammoth troubles of its own.
    Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
  • His schematic background shows up in his coaching, particularly in his approach to understanding the offense beyond just blocking the mammoth defensive lineman in front of you.
    Connor Riley, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gigantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gigantic. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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