mastodons

noun

plural of mastodon
as in whales
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

Relevance

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 mastodons 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, 10 June 2026 Other species recovered from the cave, including mastodons and ground sloths, are rare in the region. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026 Ground sloths and mastodons are linked to forest habitats. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastodons
  1. whales
  2. dinosaurs
  3. giants
  4. mammoths
  5. monsters
  6. elephants
Noun
  • One trip might involve spotting whales in a coastal fjord, while another centers on hiking through alpine wilderness or watching bears catch salmon.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2026
  • Alex Forrest, a volunteer drone pilot with the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), recorded the moment on July 28 during the whales’ northbound migration.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of whales
Noun
  • Steve Brusatte is a paleontologist who hunts and writes about dinosaurs.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 31 July 2026
  • The collection is inspired by some of the museum's most iconic exhibits and features apparel and accessories for the whole family, with playful nods to everything from towering dinosaurs to tiny insects.
    — Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of dinosaurs
Noun
  • They also aren’t convinced by big tech giants’ promises of economic benefits from the centers.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • The scenes with the incredible Cyclops and later with the giants, the Laestrygonians, feel particularly impressive.
    — Nicole Russell, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of giants
Noun
  • These results raise some questions about how Ice Age hunter-gatherers interacted with wooly mammoths.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of mammoths
Noun
  • Over the last two seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the titular demigod (Walker Scobell) has faced off against a minotaur, sailed to the sea of monsters, been chased by Cerberus, and even magically transformed into a guinea pig.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 21 July 2026
  • With the franchise’s trademark blend of extreme gore and dark humor, the Evil Dead backstory centers on the ancient Book of the Dead that unleashes supernatural evil forces and twists victims into sadistic, shape-shifting, near-invincible monsters.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 July 2026
Definition of monsters
Noun
  • Other highlights include visits to the Tribe Art Gallery, the Golden Silk farm, and elephant conservation experiences in the Kulen foothills.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026
  • Originally coined by big-game hunters to describe the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot; lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, the phrase has become tourism shorthand for the ultimate safari experience.
    — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of elephants

Browse Nearby Words

mastodon
mastodons
masturbatory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mastodons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastodons. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on mastodons

Nglish: Translation of mastodons for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All