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

One imagines Dahl, whose sometimes monstrous characters captured childhood in all its messiness, would be relieved. — Alison Herman, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

Alas, Bryan not only becomes a monster, but Michelle’s last memory of him is his rather monstrous response to the prospect of having a child together. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Flynn tried to imagine housewives across the land struggling to create this monstrous concoction. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Corbin Carroll’s two-run homer that gave the Diamondbacks an 8-7 walk-off victory over the Marlins last night was potentially monstrous. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026