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monstrous

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adverb

chiefly dialect

Synonym Chooser

How is the word monstrous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of monstrous are prodigious, stupendous, and tremendous. While all these words mean "extremely impressive," monstrous implies a departure from the normal (as in size, form, or character) and often carries suggestions of deformity, ugliness, or fabulousness.

the monstrous waste of the project

In what contexts can prodigious take the place of monstrous?

In some situations, the words prodigious and monstrous are roughly equivalent. However, prodigious suggests a marvelousness exceeding belief, usually in something felt as going far beyond a previous maximum (as of goodness, greatness, intensity, or size).

made a prodigious effort and rolled the stone aside

Where would stupendous be a reasonable alternative to monstrous?

Although the words stupendous and monstrous have much in common, stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

When is it sensible to use tremendous instead of monstrous?

The words tremendous and monstrous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

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 monstrous
Adjective
We are very literally being cast as monstrous, villainous bogeymen for cynical political reasons. James Factora, Them., 30 Apr. 2025 His character is monstrous but the script is flat; pretty much everything here is forgettable. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025 Was either perpetrator more monstrous than the other? Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025 However, a small telescope will be needed to resolve the galaxy's bright core, which is suspected to play host to a monstrous singularity 15 times the mass of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for monstrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monstrous
Adjective
  • In the distorted reality of Trump 2.0, that slightly lighter punch in the gut is what counts as relief.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
  • Nicole Schaefer Nicole Schaefer, RN, LME, is a prominent figure in the aesthetics industry who possesses the power to transform every distorted reflection into a work of art.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • It was later discovered he had been killed in a gruesome attack that U.S. intelligence says was ordered by the country's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman.
    Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 16 May 2025
  • But the rich emotional depth of that film is matched in Bring Her Back, a horror movie that delights in gruesome practical effects but also presents a nuanced character study, with little judgement passed on its bereaved antagonist, Laura.
    Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • In the spring of 2022, Russian forces trapped a large group of Ukrainians inside a gigantic steel factory called Azovstal, in southern Ukraine.
    Simon Shuster, Time, 16 May 2025
  • What all of these cases have in common is a truly gigantic deer, and then, sadly, lots of discord within the hunting community.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The series between the Warriors and the Rockets was slow, low scoring, and ugly—which is exactly how the younger, less experienced Rockets wanted it.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
  • This wasn’t the first time Green was subjected to ugly behavior from opposing fans.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
Adverb
  • No league in the United States is more popular than the National Football League, making the schedule release an extremely exciting day for the sports world.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • The economic sanctions cut off Syria from the global financial system and has made economic recovery extremely challenging after 14 years of grinding war.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Abuse Of Power: Season 1 (May 19) Long-running ID series American Monster enters a new chapter with Abuse of Power, a long-form series that takes on cases where horrific crimes and scandals were covered up and disposed of by authority figures.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 May 2025
  • Sheriff’s officials released footage that showed the horrific attack.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Tesla sales have experienced a huge international decline, leaving room for competitors to gain momentum.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • While being number one on Apple is huge, Ebell said there are also surprising ways in which the studio is monetizing Severance such as via DVD sales.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • At dinnertime, the restaurant is busy, but not slammed; the crowd seems to be largely made up of people with beautiful hair and compellingly hideous shoes.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Within the span of a few days, an innocuous speck can turn a loaf of bread from prime sandwich material into a hideous mass of blue-green fuzz—an appetite-killing sight if ever there was one.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Monstrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monstrous. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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