Definition of prodigiousnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word prodigious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of prodigious are monstrous, stupendous, and tremendous. While all these words mean "extremely impressive," 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

When is monstrous a more appropriate choice than prodigious?

The meanings of monstrous and prodigious largely overlap; however, 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

When would stupendous be a good substitute for prodigious?

The words stupendous and prodigious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

When might tremendous be a better fit than prodigious?

While the synonyms tremendous and prodigious are close in meaning, 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 prodigious Access to a Gulfstream G650 jet from the fleet of the Qatari government made Infantino’s prodigious jet-setting possible. Rio Yamat, Fortune, 19 July 2026 Ossoff has long ranked among the nation’s most prodigious political fundraisers. Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 Born to a wealthy family in Port-au-Prince, the young Chevalier has a prodigious talent for soccer. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 America's remarkable technological prowess, prodigious military capabilities, wide range of underlying economic strengths, history of resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit remain pillars of progress and reasons for optimism. Robert Hormats, Time, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prodigious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigious
Adjective
  • Such a contrast to the wonderful Bootham Crescent, York’s home until 2020 and within stumbling distance of not only the famous Minster but all the city’s many other attractions.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Stepping into the shoes of Steve McQueen is no easy feat, but Brosnan does so with style as Thomas Crown, a billionaire art thief who falls for the insurance investigator chasing him, played by the wonderful Rene Russo.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Yet that is the attitude that has led to tremendous underperformance by managers who think like that.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Transit has this tremendous scale and a startling capacity to shift between the intimate and the grand, as well as an intricate architecture.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Scheffler ended nearly seven months without winning, a season that has been marked by astonishing consistency but only one trophy to show for it from his season opener at The American Express in the California desert.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • That comparison makes all the more astonishing what Rosenwald was able to accomplish with his paltry few billion.
    Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • That final-day 2-1 home victory against West Bromwich Albion, played out in front of 33,750, also spoke of Wednesday’s vast potential.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In the case of those to Europe, with which China has a vast trade surplus, there’s also the question of how viable the route is both ways.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Sometimes, incredibly powerful space telescopes work together to accomplish amazing things.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Fans have been calling it the song of the summer, which has been so amazing for me as a new artist.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Chichibu made its money in silk, because the basin is poor country for rice but good country for mulberry, and the silk paid for the enormous festival floats the town is known for.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Its scale reflects the enormous electricity demand generated by advanced AI computing.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Morgan suffered a traumatic brain injury during the crash and was in the hospital for months, but has made a miraculous recovery.
    Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For buildings like Mount Gilead to be built and continue to prosper for over 100 years is a miraculous feat, Thompson said.
    Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Granted, City have made a club-record signing in Elliot Anderson, and he is expected to make a huge difference, but everything else is pending.
    Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The baryon-junction model provides another possibility At RHIC energies, a proton contains a huge number of gluons.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Prodigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigious. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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