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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
The most recent storm, Hurricane Erick, struck the southern coast of Mexico with 125 mph sustained winds, a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and monstrous waves. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 24 June 2025 But even this monstrous black hole can't stomach so much matter, leading to some serious indigestion in the form of outflows travelling at around 0.27 times the speed of light. Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 June 2025 Here, the hero encounters a monstrous Genma striking down a woman and he is thrust into battle in classic Onimusha fashion. Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 11 June 2025 Ogden had a monstrous day at the plate, as the Homestead native went 3 for 5 with three RBI, including a momentum-shifting three-run homer in the fourth. Miami Herald, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for monstrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monstrous
Adjective
  • For me, balancing family and the creative lifestyle and more, time is definitely about distorted moments.
    Roberta Naas, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • For Saturday’s show — which ran despite the June edition of London Fashion Week being cancelled by the British Fashion Council — Rose presented looks that twisted, stretched, distorted and shrunken outerwear staples including puffa jackets, trench coats.
    Steve Salter, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • In the wake of the gruesome shootings of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and their spouses, Lee took to social media.
    S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
  • So prepare for more gruesome kills, more gross-outs, more insight into how a society might actually look a generation after an unfathomable event.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • The reluctance to do so earlier has converted a modest problem into a gigantic problem.
    Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • The pair had performed earlier in the night at the Blue Note Jazz Festival, where Jones hula-hooped to a song in sheer black tights, a thong, and one of her gigantic signature red and black headdresses.
    Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • The pair hit an ugly double-spinebuster on the Arabic announce table.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • The wild and ugly scenes saw rioters attack law enforcement with rocks and Molotov cocktails while others burned vehicles and other property.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
Adverb
  • The entire bet was on a big wing shot creator who was extremely young.
    Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • Now the men in pink can make a shock escape from this extremely tight group.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Remember the horrific pro-Western regime of the Shah with its 150,000+ political prisoners?
    Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025
  • Hogg’s political genesis began as a senior at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland when the horrific shooting occurred in 2018.
    Maximo Bratter, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Three seasons in, The Gilded Age has barely explored its huge cast of servant characters.
    Judy Berman, Time, 20 June 2025
  • To lose one legend before a huge Test series could be put down to misfortune, but losing two looked anything but careless for India at Headingley, where two of the younger faces of their batting lineup stepped comfortably into the shoes of giants.
    Paul Newman, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • The hideous brutalist Embarcadero fountain had frozen over; couples skated across it like holiday shoppers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 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 3 Jul. 2025.

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