monstrous 1 of 2

1
2
3
4

monstrous

2 of 2

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
Quantum-computing playthings IonQ and Rigetti Computing both fell more than 20% in two days after monstrous rallies, and Robinhood shares have lost 15% in six trading days. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025 Years later, Set could still hear the haunting nighttime sounds of monstrous vermin tiptoeing through the house. Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025 Through her restraint, Roberts provokes in us some semblance of empathy for her character – in a movie where everyone else is basically monstrous. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 This area was mostly empty at the beginning, but the monstrous sounds of the race cars firing up their engines drew a lot of attention. Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for monstrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monstrous
Adjective
  • This is the first in a series of mysterious and increasingly frightening events that follow him through his childhood, all of it narrated in 'Penpal' by his adult self peering through a distorted lens of shaky, imperfect recall.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Their cry is not against the faith itself but against distorted theology that excuses cruelty.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Halloween was significantly more graphic than many of its predecessors, and Zombie said the gruesome violence was a deliberate choice and that it wasn’t supposed to be easy viewing.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The five-minute mash-up rapidly intercuts scenes of happy domesticity (a loving mother, kids in face paint eating popcorn in front of the tube, teens affectionately goofing around) with gruesome murders committed by a beautiful little boy.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Plus, the cash flow from its chemical business is gigantic.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Titanic, gigantic GodzillaStomped on Tokyo, then on Manila.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Vanderbilt survived a Hail Mary against Missouri, while Memphis bounced back from its ugly loss to UAB to defeat South Florida and regain its spot as the leading Group of Five playoff contender.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025
  • But two familiar problems reared their ugly heads.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Almeida is extremely likely to have wrestling success early in this fight, and the question becomes whether Volkov can survive and extend the matchup.
    Brett Appley, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Last offseason, the Red Sox were extremely active, trading for ace pitcher Garrett Crochet and signing All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • However, watching the slow and steady movement of a horrific storm on a collision course with my beloved land over the last several days was agonizing.
    Grace White, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
  • According to police, the horrific incident began when the child’s mother, who was out of town on Friday, asked her father to check on her daughter as she was being cared for by the nanny.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The pitch clock has already gone a long way towards helping make baseball more accessible, but moving the first pitch back 25 minutes would still make a huge difference.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Examples include huge catching nets, or docking with stray objects to force them back down into Earth's atmosphere.
    Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • When her rival, Poot’s Thea, arrives underdressed, Hedda forces her into a hideous frock with fussy bows and an ungainly skirt.
    Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Here, see the real-life The Twits cast side-by-side with their hilariously hideous animated counterparts.
    Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Monstrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monstrous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on monstrous

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!