mammoth 1 of 2

mammoth

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mammoth distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mammoth are colossal, enormous, gigantic, huge, immense, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When might colossal be a better fit than mammoth?

Although the words colossal and mammoth have much in common, colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How are the words enormous and immense related as synonyms of mammoth?

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

When would gigantic be a good substitute for mammoth?

The words gigantic and mammoth can be used in similar contexts, but gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When can huge be used instead of mammoth?

In some situations, the words huge and mammoth are roughly equivalent. However, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

Where would vast be a reasonable alternative to mammoth?

The meanings of vast and mammoth largely overlap; however, vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

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 mammoth
Adjective
Star architect Peter Marino, who spearheaded the mammoth redesign of The Landmark in recent years, also popped in to say hello. Freya Drohan, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025 Mitigating these risks is a mammoth task for companies, governments, and society. Arvind Narayanan, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
The term refers to a group of massive elephant-like species, like the mammoth. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024 Published in the journal Science Advances, the study represents the first direct evidence that the Paleoindian Clovis culture relied heavily on mammoths—in addition to other megafauna—for food. Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mammoth 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mammoth
Adjective
  • One thing management certainly has announced is a gigantic restructuring of TV and digital assets.
    Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Authorities have built a gigantic tent city on the banks of the rivers to accommodate the millions of pilgrims and tourists attending the festival -- equipped with 3,000 kitchens, 150,000 toilets, roads, electricity, water, communication towers and 11 hospitals, according to the Associated Press.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Campbells have been known to just sit on a terrace with a local beer keeping a look-out for those whales while giant icebergs float past.
    Roger Sands, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
  • In recent years, large numbers of whales have washed ashore up and down the East Coast, including in New Jersey and Massachusetts.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Those are giant movies, so there’s a lot of expectations and there’s a lot of money.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Parson turned his corner lot into a showcase of creativity, beginning with a giant cutout of Bigfoot.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • One of the favorites is the playable lineages based on dinosaur families.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • For example, Joslin said an upcoming dinosaur program will be presented by MC Rose, a naturalist with a geology degree.
    Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Shares of chip designer Nvidia, a huge beneficiary of the AI hype, were down 11.8% at 07:05 a.m.
    Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
  • No laws prevented Musk from interviewing Alice Weidel, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on X, thereby providing her with a huge platform, available to no other political candidate, in the month before a national election.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The creature towers over one of Peter's fellow students which spurs him into action, distracting the monster long enough for Dr. Strange to wrangle it and haul it back through one of his signature portals.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
  • For now, questions that seem to have no answers persist: How Hitler’s cult of personality could create such monsters and how so much of a nation could have committed such crimes.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Black Lives Matter movement gained enormous attention with its stand against police brutality.
    John Blake, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
  • This guy Puffy, this guy is in an enormous amount of trouble.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • But the 54-room boutique hotel will also include nods to the brand’s beachy Nantucket and Palm Beach locations, like elephant door knockers at the entrance to each room and suite.
    Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
  • This development is raising concerns for the region's unique ecosystem, particularly its colonies of King penguins and millions of elephant and fur seals.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near mammoth

Cite this Entry

“Mammoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mammoth. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mammoth

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