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mastodon

noun

ˈma-stə-ˌdän How to pronounce mastodon (audio)
Definition of mastodonnext
as in whale
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful mom-and-pop stores just can't compete with these mastodons of retailing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 mastodon Ground sloths and mastodons are linked to forest habitats. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026 For example, utility workers once uncovered an ancient bone fragment from a mastodon. — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 The frieze, estimated to be about 12,500 years old, depicts massive ice age beasts thought to have once roamed South America, including mastodons and ground sloths the size of a car. — Laura Bassett, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2025 This was an important clue to a developing theory that grazing megafauna—such as the extinct mammoths and mastodons that once roamed the southern Appalachians—may have played a role. — Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for mastodon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastodon
  1. whale
  2. dinosaur
  3. giant
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
  6. elephant
Noun
  • Each summer, thousands of beluga whales migrate to the mouth of the Churchill River, to feed on small fish and nurse their young.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • And acting together, cells are collectively intelligent, ultimately building complex final forms—whether that be a flower, a whale, or even you.
    — Matthew Hutson, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • The feathers were partially adapted for diving, yet retained primitive, fuzzy down typical of non-avian dinosaurs.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The feather dates back to the late Cretaceous, right before the great extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs and a large swath of other species.
    — Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • The South Korean tech giant recently upgraded its Smart Switch feature, allowing iPhone users to transfer data to a Galaxy device wirelessly by simply scanning a QR code, without installing the Smart Switch app on their iPhone.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Microsoft and the teachers' unions announced an agreement Wednesday, banning the technology giant from tracking city students.
    — John Dias, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • Similarly, Zo — seen recently as the monster hunter in Na Hong-jin’s delirious sci-fi action epic, Hope — stays for most of the running time just the right side of smug entitlement.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Having created this monster, Hansen now has to feed it; going up against Lost, To Catch a Predator needs to best itself every week.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • See fossils of the 14-foot, 20,000-pound mammoths that used to roam around Texas.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The site preserves the remains of Columbian mammoths and offers a look at Ice Age life in Texas.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of mammoth
Noun
  • At 80, Steinem celebrated her birthday by riding an elephant in Botswana.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In the process of making the film, the team is currently gathering memories, photos, videos, and stories from anyone who has encountered Happy and the six other Dwarf elephants.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of elephant

Browse Nearby Words

masticating
mastodon
mastodons
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Cite this Entry

“Mastodon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastodon. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mastodon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mastodon

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