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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
In the upcoming film, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 May 2025 Hassell went on to credit the manager for calming him down from trying to hit a monstrous home run every time up. Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 True to its class, the Katla delivers a monstrous 2,128 horsepower from a quad-turbo 7.0-liter V-12 engine that powers two wheels. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 23 May 2025 Garrett received a monstrous four-year, $160 million deal from the AFC North division rival Browns. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for monstrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monstrous
Adjective
  • Higher wattages make louder and less distorted sounds possible without damaging the speaker.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
  • The software error could cause the review camera image to become distorted when the car is in reverse, the NHTSA says.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Six decades later, Hamas would engage in a gruesome competition with Fatah to outdo one another with terrorist attacks during the 1990s and early 2000s.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
  • But Trump and Epstein’s association has been out in the open for nearly a quarter century; nineties-era footage of the gruesome twosome together at Mar-a-Lago, leering at a group of young cheerleaders, has been circulating since at least 2019.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • In numerous ways, the loss of Fernandes would be a gigantic blow for United.
    Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • This gigantic bet-and-get offer is exclusively available to new DraftKings customers who use the code and register today.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Tech wealth here looks even less appealing than that of the Roy family (the expensively beige décor is even uglier).
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
  • During the negotiation of USMCA in 2018, the current trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada that Trump managed during his first term, conversations between the President and GM occasionally turned ugly.
    Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Adverb
  • Mills, a longtime associate of Fiona Apple, knows this territory well: the pointed self-analysis of an extremely sensitive person.
    Jenn Pelly, Time, 7 June 2025
  • City’s academy has been extremely productive in recent years, with Phil Foden the shining light, but Rico Lewis, James McAtee, Oscar Bobb and O’Reilly are all now established squad players.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • That this horrific upheaval comes care of Lucy’s work is the real kicker.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 June 2025
  • This is what Qasem Hassan had feared from the start—that the horrific violence inflicted on Israelis on October 7th would be used to justify a war without limits, dehumanizing all Palestinians.
    Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • The other co-main event features the champion Peña as a huge underdog against Harrison.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
  • During a period of huge tax cuts, from George W. Bush in 2001 through the present, there was gross fiscal irresponsibility inflicted by both Republicans and Democrats.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • There are no save-the-cat redemptions for a man who became famous for torturing, murdering and performing hideous experiments on countless Jews as part of a team of doctors overseeing medical services at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
  • But Eleanor has backed herself into an awful corner, and in some ways, so too has Johansson’s film, which is stuck trying to impart sage wisdom through the lens of a truly hideous (if well-meaning) lie.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Monstrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monstrous. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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