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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
Fresh off of an inspired second-half showing at Southern Utah behind quarterback Caden Pinnick to secure their first victory, the UC Davis Aggies now prepare for a monstrous challenge in Seattle. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Still a familiar figure today, Christopher was depicted for centuries as dog-headed or a monstrous giant—or both. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2025 The next time the band arrived in the US, between the monstrous success of their second album and the release of their grandiose third, transatlantic success felt there for the taking. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025 Then again, the artifice of the film’s tone isn’t built for reflection, anyway, and its symbols aren’t found in any individual images but in the whole rollickingly monstrous shebang. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for monstrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monstrous
Adjective
  • The shoe manages to look both retro and futuristic at the same time through its distorted 2000s design language.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Neutrons occupy unexpected shells and give rise to nuclei with distorted shapes and unusual properties compared to their more stable neighbors.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Gonzalez-Rasalas was charged with murder, desecrating a body and auto theft in a gruesome 2023 Easter Sunday homicide.
    Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2025
  • At the time, and in the next nearly two years, the Kansas City region also experienced the gruesome abuse and neglect deaths of three children ages 4 to 6, including one boy who fell from a 17th floor apartment window in November 2023.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • After the House settlement, both schools dissolved their ties with collectives, but many schools still have them in a new era that is essentially a gigantic, expensive experiment.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Their Instagram announcement—a carousel of the couple's lavish garden engagement photoshoot—has been liked more than 35 million times since it was posted on August 26, with Swifties around the world fawning over the singer's gigantic ring.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This comes after Sunday's ugly loss to the Indianapolis Colts, a game that saw Hill catch just four passes for 40 yards.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • That’s a hard reality to stomach for Giants fans, who had to watch their offense go 4-for-16 on third downs, pile up just 157 passing yards and finish with six points in an ugly loss to the Commanders.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Lisa, 28, wore a black maxi dress with cutouts, and paired the look with an extremely rare Hermès Birkin while in South Korea's capital city.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • An initial report of a paralyzed kitten being thrown down a staircase led police in Northern Ohio to a home where officers reported finding 13 young children living in horrific conditions.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • But, really, does enough training exist that would prepare anyone for such a horrific emergency?
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Congress had enacted byzantine eligibility requirements for disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, forcing the agency to expend huge amounts of time and money running those programs.
    Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Of course, there remains a huge barrier to entry for the San Jose Sharks sophomore.
    Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hart was short, with a hideous combover.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2025
  • That hideous incentive triggered My Lai and other similarly heinous attacks.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Monstrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monstrous. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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