mon·ster
ˈmän(t)-stər 
plural monsters
1
a
: an animal of strange or terrifying shape
a mythical monster
a sea monster
… visualize this scaleless monster, eight or nine feet long, sprawling in the shade by the side of the mud pools …—
W. E. Swinton
W. E. Swinton
b
: one unusually large for its kind
That truck is a monster.
That's why I was born in my grandmother's house—a grand, brick Federal monster of a house.—John Irving
John Irving2
a
: an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure
b
: one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or character
an immoral monster
3
: a threatening force
the same monster—Destiny … that rolls every civilization to doom—W. L. Sullivan
W. L. Sullivan4
: something monstrous
especially
: a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty
a cruel monster of a father
5
: one that is highly successful
That movie was a monster at the box office.
: enormous or impressive especially in size, extent, or numbers
Examples of monster in a Sentence
Noun
That car is a monster.
Inflation has become an economic monster.
Adjective
The movie turned out to be a monster hit.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
From being at arguably the most prestigious high school program to arguably the most historic college football program at Alabama to walking into the media and entertainment monster that is the Dallas Cowboys, Booker will have a leg up on anyone else walking onto a big stage for the first time.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
Well, that's what some people are doing for this monster doll from China called Labubu.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monster
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Noun
Remmick is a monster, but his homeland was colonized by some of the same rapacious forces that brought the twins’ ancestors to America.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
From being at arguably the most prestigious high school program to arguably the most historic college football program at Alabama to walking into the media and entertainment monster that is the Dallas Cowboys, Booker will have a leg up on anyone else walking onto a big stage for the first time.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The Ducks are currently going through a somewhat monster renovation of the Honda Center at a cost of $1 billion.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
Well, that's what some people are doing for this monster doll from China called Labubu.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monster
Cite this Entry
“Monster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monster. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
monster
1 of 2 noun
mon·ster
ˈmän(t)-stər
1
: an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure
2
: a strange or horrible creature
3
: something unusually large
4
: an extremely wicked or cruel person
monster
2 of 2 adjective
: very large : enormous
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