Synonyms of monstrous

monstrous 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmän(t)-strəs 

1

as in distorted

badly or imperfectly formed

a monstrous melon that was clearly not fit to eat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distorted
• misshapen
• mutant
• deformed
• malformed
• shapeless
• ugly
• horrible
• terrible
• crooked
• horrific
• freakish
• abnormal
• disproportionate
• unequal
• aberrant
• lopsided
• disfigured
• asymmetrical
• unbalanced
• unattractive
• irregular
• defaced
• nonsymmetrical
• overbalanced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• perfect
• undeformed
• flawless
• shapely

2

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

the monstrous measures taken by the dictator against anyone who opposed his regime

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• nightmare
• horrible
• terrible
• frightening
• horrifying
• hideous
• terrifying
• terrific
• dreadful
• awful
• nightmarish
• scary
• appalling
• horrid
• grisly
• ghastly
• macabre
• sickening
• frightful
• horrendous
• atrocious
• lurid
• disgusting
• formidable
• fearful
• ugly
• alarming
• grotesque
• obscene
• loathsome
• dire
• repulsive
• fearsome
• direful
• abominable
• heinous
• revolting
• odious
• unspeakable
• abhorrent
• intimidating
• offensive
• repugnant
• obnoxious
• deplorable
• evil
• vile
• disagreeable
• forbidding
• redoubtable
• gut-wrenching
• bloodcurdling
• noxious
• distasteful
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• nauseating
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attractive
• delightful
• pleasant
• delicious
• welcome
• satisfying
• appealing
• delectable
• agreeable
• enticing
• enjoyable
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

3

as in gigantic

unusually large

a monstrous tomato as big as a basketball

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gigantic
• huge
• giant
• enormous
• vast
• tremendous
• massive
• colossal
• mammoth
• immense
• monster
• monumental
• astronomical
• titanic
• bumper
• mountainous
• mighty
• big
• grand
• gargantuan
• sizable
• heroic
• humongous
• cosmic
• great
• prodigious
• oceanic
• oversize
• mega
• herculean
• cyclopean
• planetary
• elephantine
• whopping
• super
• galactic
• jumbo
• handsome
• considerable
• majestic
• pharaonic
• substantial
• supersized
• formidable
• Himalayan
• vasty
• leviathan
• gigantesque
• good
• staggering
• imposing
• Brobdingnagian
• whacking
• supersize
• major
• extensive
• gross
• king-size
• voluminous
• super-duper
• walloping
• bulky
• hefty
• tidy
• overgrown
• infinite
• outsize
• grandiose
• stupendous
• hulking
• overwhelming
• goodly
• lofty
• cavernous
• towering
• monolithic
• largish
• immeasurable
• august
• boundless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tiny
• diminutive
• miniature
• microscopic
• minuscule
• infinitesimal
• micro
• bitty
• pocket
• pygmy
• wee
• little bitty
• teeny
• small
• Lilliputian
• puny
• midget
• teensy
• minute
• little
• smallish
• mini
• undersized
• petite
• microminiature
• bantam
• teeny-weeny
• teensy-weensy
• dinky
• dwarfish
• pint-size
• half-pint

4

as in ugly

unpleasant to look at

some monstrous high-rises have begun to spoil that lovely residential neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ugly
• hideous
• grotesque
• unpleasing
• awful
• disgusting
• vile
• unattractive
• unsightly
• unappealing
• unlovely
• homely
• horrible
• ill-favored
• abominable
• loathsome
• unbeautiful
• sickening
• repulsive
• appalling
• uncomely
• horrid
• revolting
• unhandsome
• unpretty
• abhorrent
• repugnant
• dreadful
• repellent
• nauseating
• gross
• distasteful
• nauseous
• noisome
• unbecoming
• plain
• frumpy
• unshapely
• unaesthetic
• frumpish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beautiful
• attractive
• handsome
• stunning
• gorgeous
• lovely
• aesthetic
• pretty
• beauteous
• goodly
• ravishing
• fair
• cute
• good-looking
• seemly
• comely
• knockout
• drop-dead
• fetching
• taking
• impressive
• shapely
• imposing
• bonny
• sightly
• well-favored
• prepossessing

monstrous

2 of 2

adverb

chiefly dialect

as in extremely

to a great degree

a monstrous pretty gal, she was

Synonyms & Similar Words

• extremely
• incredibly
• damned
• very
• terribly
• damn
• highly
• badly
• too
• severely
• so
• jolly
• desperately
• really
• super
• full
• mighty
• seriously
• that
• such
• real
• far
• wildly
• wicked
• awful
• greatly
• intensely
• most
• deadly
• heavily
• especially
• much
• good and
• exceptionally
• beastly
• fiercely
• fantastically
• roaring
• awfully
• absolutely
• passing
• particularly
• extra
• immensely
• fabulously
• frightfully
• specially
• bone
• rattling
• exceedingly
• sore
• supremely
• whacking
• filthy
• utterly
• way
• almighty
• eminently
• thumping
• hugely
• cracking
• dang
• uncommonly
• remarkably
• totally
• corking
• surpassingly
• enormously
• vitally
• mortally
• colossally
• vastly
• achingly
• positively
• a lot
• thoroughly
• completely
• stinking
• spanking
• sorely
• deeply
• archly
• ever
• roaringly
• entirely
• as all get-out
• blisteringly
• mightily
• wholly
• unco
• majorly
• downright
• significantly
• right
• profoundly
• flat-out
• considerably
• noticeably
• fully
• radically
• visibly
• obviously
• purely
• monstrously
• substantially
• notably
• extensively
• markedly
• palpably
• monumentally
• obscenely
• altogether
• plainly
• astonishingly
• discernibly
• excessively
• staggeringly
• grandly
• amazingly
• plentifully
• appreciably
• astronomically
• abundantly
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• little
• somewhat
• slightly
• nominally
• negligibly
• just
• scarcely
• barely
• hardly
• minimally
• meagerly
• scantily
• marginally

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

Recent Examples of monstrous

Adjective

From its opening moments, Zoe Kazan’s epic, sprawling Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel, East of Eden, announces that the monstrous Cathy Ames (played by Florence Pugh) is the true center of the story. — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026

Playing their first game on the SNF prime-time showcase in 10 years, the Carolina Panthers got monstrous performances from a trio of offensive stars and upset the Detroit Lions, 32-26, at Bank of America Stadium. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

In some moments, Digger evokes Orson Welles’s monstrous creation Charles Foster Kane, an association that does this movie no favors. — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

That is before any black hole should have had a chance to grow to such monstrous masses via mergers or ordinary feeding. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026