Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of tremendous are monstrous, prodigious, and stupendous. While all these words mean "extremely impressive," tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

When might monstrous be a better fit than tremendous?

In some situations, the words monstrous and tremendous are roughly equivalent. 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 is it sensible to use prodigious instead of tremendous?

The synonyms prodigious and tremendous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 stupendous a more appropriate choice than tremendous?

Although the words stupendous and tremendous 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

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 tremendous After making a tremendous mistake that triggers the French and Indian War, an ambitious 22-year-old George Washington must face his failures and find the courage to become the leader that will forge a nation. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025 What often gets lost in the dialogue about Chicago is the tremendous, tireless work that takes place here day in and day out to prevent violence, to heal trauma, to build and sustain communities that honor people’s dignity and protect their safety and peace. Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025 There is a tremendous amount of hype around Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning going into the 2025 season – and rightfully so. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025 New industrial activity, electric vehicles and the data centers underpinning the AI revolution are gobbling up a tremendous amount of electricity. Terry Jarrett, Boston Herald, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tremendous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tremendous
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
  • But with each passing summer of enormous transfer spending, the chances of turning the boat around fade ever further.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • There has been an enormous amount of press coverage of the battle over gerrymandering in the last month.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That raised officially reported deaths from such causes to at least 361, including 130 children, the vast majority in recent weeks.
    Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The vast majority of guns do not come from Chicago.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 3 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
  • The Environmental Protection Agency oversaw a massive cleanup effort, for one.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In March, a massive, violent earthquake shook Myanmar.
    Lauren Liebhaber September 5, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Together, these guardrails create a foundational leadership operating system that enables leaders to carry immense responsibility without cracks showing in public.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Gutierrez added the family was under immense strain, with Zaragoza's father, who is on dialysis, holding on to hope of seeing his son again, while his stepmother juggles caregiving and medical appointments.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • While the storyline echoes the original attraction, everything from the giant guitar outside to landmarks along the limo ride will get a Muppets touch next year.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The talents are seen posing in a public bathroom with red and black tiles, reproducing the set of Michele’s sophomore Valentino ready-to-wear show, staged in a giant public toilet bathed in red light.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The arrangement suggests that the region’s colossal elevation is supported not by one massive crustal slab, but by a complex, layered architecture.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
  • But for me the book was a colossal procrastination of not fully feeling the pain of the Russian invasion.
    Maria Reva September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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