mammoth 1 of 2

Definition of mammothnext

mammoth

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mammoth distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mammoth are colossal, enormous, gigantic, huge, immense, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When might colossal be a better fit than mammoth?

Although the words colossal and mammoth have much in common, colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How are the words enormous and immense related as synonyms of mammoth?

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 gigantic be a good substitute for mammoth?

The words gigantic and mammoth can be used in similar contexts, but gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When can huge be used instead of mammoth?

In some situations, the words huge and mammoth are roughly equivalent. However, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

Where would vast be a reasonable alternative to mammoth?

The meanings of vast and mammoth largely overlap; however, vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

How is the word mammoth distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mammoth are colossal, enormous, gigantic, huge, immense, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When might colossal be a better fit than mammoth?

Although the words colossal and mammoth have much in common, colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How are the words enormous and immense related as synonyms of mammoth?

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 gigantic be a good substitute for mammoth?

The words gigantic and mammoth can be used in similar contexts, but gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When can huge be used instead of mammoth?

In some situations, the words huge and mammoth are roughly equivalent. However, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

Where would vast be a reasonable alternative to mammoth?

The meanings of vast and mammoth largely overlap; 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 mammoth
Adjective
This is just a mammoth problem with this model of looking to the private market to take care of people’s housing needs. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026 Building the mammoth deck atop which the 12,000 units would be constructed would cost at least $21 billion. Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
Unlike many slow-moving urban mammoths, this could be a model for how to integrate local desires with capitalist imperatives to deliver your friendly neighborhood megaproject. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2026 Savvy ancestors As mammoths and elephants were rare in prehistoric England, the discovery highlights the advanced cognitive skills of early humans. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mammoth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mammoth
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
Noun
  • The 80-foot-long grinning behemoth floating in a roadside pond was built as an anniversary gift for the owner’s whale-loving wife.
    Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
  • In addition to a long music career, McDonald remained politically active, advocating on behalf of saving the whales and helping Vietnam War veterans.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 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
Noun
  • The plastic dinosaur is attached to a cap — its head in the front and its tail in the back.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The next theme, coming this summer, will be dinosaur-related, said Library Executive Director Lindsey Dorfman.
    Jennifer Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
  • The Bride not looking like a monster and retaining her desirability after reanimation is common, but only sometimes interrogated.
    Rory Doherty, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Whale, and later fellow directors Franc Rodman, Branagh and now Gyllenhaal, imagined what might have happened if Frankenstein had completed the female monster.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi An enormous inland pool of clear water stretching as far as the eye can see, Lake Malawi offers many opportunities for affordable lakeside leisure.
    Melanie van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Massive billionaire funding in the race from artificial intelligence interests operated largely outside public awareness, with super PACs spending enormous sums while deliberately avoiding transparency about their true policy priorities, particularly regarding AI regulation[1].
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The elephant is that the real AI TAM [total addressable market] is labor, all $60 trillion of it globally.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Since 2003 there has been a 16 percent average annual increase in the numbers of lions and an average 7 percent for elephants, and a general fivefold jump in nonmigrating herbivores.
    Tom Vanderbilt, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mammoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mammoth. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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