Definition of vastnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vast distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of vast are colossal, enormous, gigantic, huge, immense, and mammoth. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

When might colossal be a better fit than vast?

The words colossal and vast can be used in similar contexts, but colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How do enormous and immense relate to one another, in the sense of vast?

Enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness.

an enormous expense
an immense shopping mall

Where would gigantic be a reasonable alternative to vast?

Although the words gigantic and vast have much in common, gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When could huge be used to replace vast?

The synonyms huge and vast are sometimes interchangeable, but huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

When would mammoth be a good substitute for vast?

The meanings of mammoth and vast largely overlap; however, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

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 vast The 43-room red-brick hotel shares its vast 375 acres with an 18-hole golf course, a spa, as well as a cricket ground and horse pastures. — Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026 Driving from the airport in early December the grey skies and vast landscape of fallow fields and red farm buildings confirmed that impression, especially as the sun started to set at around 4pm. — Natasha Langan, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026 That work was made harder for the vast majority hit by the downpours, including these three people, who did not have flood insurance. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Among his tremendous body of work, Wright designed residences more than any other building type, and though some have been converted into house museums or used for other purposes, the vast majority remain private homes. — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vast
Adjective
  • Tiny creatures like crabs and ants traveled huge distances, encountering all sorts of dangers—driven by the instinct to lay eggs and reproduce at any cost.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The sensational international rescue of the famously sentient creatures, replete with colossal cargo planes, huge crates and Shedd staffers working in the dead of night to transport and care for the whales, must have looked made for social media.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The machines typically used to compress fuel must deliver enormous bursts of energy with exceptional precision.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • No one knew quite how enormous both films would become, even if many clearly believed in the films and the filmmakers.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Think again of a gigantic system of pipes, each of which is open or closed with a certain probability.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Find an old Porsche, Jaguar or Mini, rip everything out, throw in a gigantic modern engine, carbon-fiber bodywork and enough computing power to launch a satellite, then ask half a million dollars for it.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Both execs are well-liked and respected, and both boast tremendous domains, consisting of both studios and networks.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Diamonds are crystallized under tremendous pressure and heat deep inside the Earth and then thrust to the surface through volcanic activity before they’re scattered by water or wind.
    — LAURA TURBAY, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • PopZao, in theory, allows anyone with a following—now just massive IP machines—to develop merchandise.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • All this comes the same week that the company's massive Starship reached orbit for the first time.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Take the account of a giant, gentle whale shark gliding through the blue waters off the Southern California coast.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Capital financial services giant project includes a $60 million investment by 2031, and pledges to hire hundreds of workers with minimum average pay of $194,000.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • How long will the industry remain supply constrained and, in turn, be able to hold onto immense pricing power and fat profit margins?
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
  • After several months of negotiations, the former spouses finally reached an agreement on how to divide their immense wealth.
    — Mathilde Engelmann, Vanity Fair, 27 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The sensational international rescue of the famously sentient creatures, replete with colossal cargo planes, huge crates and Shedd staffers working in the dead of night to transport and care for the whales, must have looked made for social media.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • From the tiny unit of matter—the atom, invisible to the eye—comes an explosion of colossal proportions.
    — Artforum, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vast. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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