tremendous

adjective

tre·​men·​dous tri-ˈmen-dəs How to pronounce tremendous (audio)
1
a
: notable by reason of extreme size, power, greatness, or excellence
tremendous problems
a writer of tremendous talent
often used as a generalized term of approval
had a tremendous time
b
: unusually large : huge
a tremendous number of people
2
: being such as may excite trembling or arouse dread, awe, or terror
tremendousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for tremendous

monstrous, prodigious, tremendous, stupendous mean extremely impressive.

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

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

tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

Examples of tremendous in a Sentence

He has a tremendous amount of energy. The engine's power is tremendous. She is a writer of tremendous talent. We had a tremendous time.
Recent Examples on the Web Pat rushed in with a roar, and a tremendous scuffle broke out. Outdoor Life, 23 Nov. 2023 Marion said the Rebels (9-2) didn’t require tremendous roster turnover to realize success for a program that has had just one winning season this century. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023 This age is one of tremendous growth and fun, as well as challenges that come in the form of strong individualism, big ideas and mood swings. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023 Working with Anil Kapoor was an absolute delight and a tremendous learning experience. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023 Our most memorable meal was a tremendous splurge dinner on the patio of the Pocket, which opened during some of the worst days of the pandemic — the summer of 2020 — and prospered anyway, offering steak, seafood and Italian fare. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023 And for those able to navigate today’s startup journey, the rewards can be tremendous – for investors, founders, and the Innovation Economy at large. Mark Flickinger, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Still others employ diffusers, building-size industrial machines that use high-pressure water to shred the agaves without cooking them at all, thereby extracting tremendous yields and completing the whole operation in just a few hours. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2023 Cruz celebrates the tremendous advancements in cancer research since her friend's diagnosis over thirty years ago while emphasizing the ongoing potential for even greater accomplishments ahead. Maia Torres, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tremendous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin tremendus, from gerundive of tremere

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tremendous was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near tremendous

Cite this Entry

“Tremendous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tremendous. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

tremendous

adjective
tre·​men·​dous tri-ˈmen-dəs How to pronounce tremendous (audio)
1
: causing dread, awe, or terror : dreadful
2
: astonishing because of great size, excellence, or power
tremendous problems
a writer of tremendous talent
tremendously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tremendous

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