mammoth 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of mammothnext
as in gigantic
unusually large a mammoth book with color plates of birds native to North America

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mammoth

2 of 2

noun

ˈma-məth How to pronounce mammoth (audio)
as in whale
something that is unusually large and powerful even as sport-utility vehicles go, that one is a mammoth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
But suffice to say, Snoop gets a dire diagnosis, transports to a battleground set amid giant marijuana plants, gets cozy with a mammoth marijuana bud, dies and visits Tupac, Petty pops in throughout, and Jelly Roll appears in a prison yard, among other wild occurrences. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2025 Colossal has been working toward resurrecting the mammoth, dodo and Tasmanian tiger since 2021, but the company had not previously publicized its work on dire wolves. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
Colossal scientists have done a computational analysis of the ancient genetic makeup of 59 woolly, Columbian, and steppe mammoths, ranging from 3,500 to over 1,200,000 years old. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025 Viminacium is also home to Mamut Park, which features enormous skeletons of prehistoric mammoths discovered in the area. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mammoth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mammoth
  1. gigantic
  2. whale
  3. giant
  4. dinosaur
  5. huge
  6. monster
  7. enormous
  8. elephant
Adjective
  • In numerous ways, the loss of Fernandes would be a gigantic blow for United.
    — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • This gigantic bet-and-get offer is exclusively available to new DraftKings customers who use the code and register today.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Definition of gigantic
Noun
  • Horrifying images of dead albatrosses with clusters of colorful plastic spilling from their bodies, turtles eating plastic bags and whales entangled in plastic fishing nets are testament to how this pollution is affecting marine life.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
  • Warming oceans bleach coral reefs, disrupt monsoons, and alter migratory routes of birds, whales, and butterflies.
    — Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Definition of whale
Adjective
  • Richman sits behind two giant computer monitors atop an enormous desk that’s directly below an even bigger monitor displaying the rough cut.
    — Kelly Stout, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2025
  • For those sorts of people, the news that audio giant JBL has developed a new PartyBox 520 speaker will be music to their ears.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of giant
Noun
  • In it, actors including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali face off against some of the most terrifying dinosaurs ever featured in the franchise.
    — Becca Longmire, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • The team brought in an animatronic dinosaur from China, which had to be durable enough to use for stunts when Ellie climbs on top of it.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 19 May 2025
Definition of dinosaur
Adjective
  • Okonkwo made a huge impression in north Wales and his move was made permanent last summer on a free transfer.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Behind Karl-Anthony Towns' huge fourth quarter, New York came storming back to take home a 106-100 lead and cut its series deficit to 2-1.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Definition of huge
Noun
  • The message of Bring Her Back may be that grief is the real monster.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 30 May 2025
  • Almost anyone 18 and older that appears onscreen is a monster here, and anyone younger is either prey or a means to an end.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
Definition of monster
Adjective
  • Beyond these rooms is a meditation space/guest room with an enormous Buddha.
    — Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
  • Like Musk, Venis is obsessed with going to outer space and with using his enormous war chest to build hyperscale data centers to create powerful anti-woke AI systems.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 31 May 2025
Definition of enormous
Noun
  • Its approach mirrors that used for the dire wolf: comparing ancient mammoth DNA with that of its closest living relative, the Asian elephant, and introducing mammoth genes associated with cold tolerance.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • At the Tulsa Zoo, Billy and Tina will be joined in a 17-acre enclosure by five other Asian elephants.
    — Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Definition of elephant

Browse Nearby Words

mammies
mammoth
mammoths
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mammoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mammoth. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mammoth

Nglish: Translation of mammoth for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mammoth

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