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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 So the dream continues to grow to prodigious proportions. Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025 His intellectual range was prodigious. Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 Schwarber passed it in his way in the fourth inning with one prodigious swing that awakened these Phillies. Matt Gelb, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 On the other hand, comets that are prodigious producers of dust, are the ones that are eye-catching because such dust tails appear much brighter. Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prodigious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigious
Adjective
  • The Christos honored their promise by gifting me with a wonderful collage in addition to my one-dollar paycheck.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • That scene was so incredibly awkward… and wonderful.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • As the anti-India movement in the Maldives gained momentum, China exploited the United States’ absence, rapidly expanding its regional footprint by easing the tremendous debt the island country owed China.
    MUHIB RAHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The lid lifters, who conduct their inspections just before crews are scheduled to pick up trash and recycling, have created some confusion because their inspections began with the city’s trash system in tremendous flux.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Every few minutes the jungle deposited us onto an astonishing beach.
    David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The astonishing result, achieved by the CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) collaboration, represents the first-ever observation of single top quark production with W and Z bosons, a process known as tWZ production.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • In 2017, Nepal joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s vast infrastructure investment program.
    MUHIB RAHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Robotic systems like Sentante could let experts treat patients remotely instead of transporting them across vast regions.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Antetokounmpo delivered one of the most amazing closeout performances of all-time.
    The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
  • And the reach of Prime Video, especially globally, is really, really amazing.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Danielewski is a writer of enormous power and vision.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Some of this, of course, is related to fires in California and hurricanes in the southeast that destroyed an enormous amount of utility infrastructure.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Some miraculous news, unexpected news.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Blüemlisalphütte, its red and white shutters glinting in the miraculous sudden sunlight.
    Lucy Kehoe, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At the center of all the glitzy havoc—her face often looming on a huge flat screen that rolls around the stage, following actors like a hulking LED stalker—is of course Chenoweth.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Todd also had a huge sack in the fourth quarter.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prodigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigious. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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