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
Its crowning glory: a mammoth skylight that illuminates the entire structure for ultimate chiaroscuro effect. —Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2025 The Patriots entered this offseason in a mammoth hole. —Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
Shapiro and her colleagues started by trying to identify the genes responsible for making mammoths distinctive. —Rob Stein, NPR, 4 Mar. 2025 The New Ecosystem Engineers The model charted yet another fluctuation in seed size at around 50,000 years ago, when the Late Pleistocene extinctions caused megafauna like mammoths to begin vanishing. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 18 Feb. 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
  • The bathroom could be closed off with sleek pivoting panels and came—like all suites—with a gigantic shower and round bath the size of a Jacuzzi tub.
    — Chris Schaklx, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The polar vortex is a gigantic, circular area of cold air high up in the atmosphere that typically spins over the North Pole (as its name suggests).
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of gigantic
Noun
  • The Virgin isles are a place of stiff rums rather than grizzled whale meats in the frosty expanse of Greenland.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Swimming near whale calves or dolphin nursery groups should remain strictly prohibited.
    — Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of whale
Adjective
  • Dire wolves mostly ate horses and bison, with occasional forays into giant sloths and baby mammoths.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Born in Okayama, Japan, Hattori began his racing career on the open-wheel circuits of his home country before taking a giant leap across the Pacific to chase his dreams in America.
    — Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of giant
Noun
  • The fourth film in the Jurassic World series follows a team of scientists and others whose main objective is to acquire genetic samples from three of the largest dinosaurs in the sea, on land and in the air.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Covert operations expert Zora Bennett (Johansson) attempts to secure the genetic material from the dinosaurs but ends up stranded with a civilian family on an island that holds a secret being kept from humanity for decades.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of dinosaur
Adjective
  • Last year saw a huge uptick in tornadoes later in the spring and activity continued through December, with nearly 2,000 tornado reports in total.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
  • But if the Nets aren't interested in signing Randle, where would that huge contract come from? Randle's teammate, Naz Reid, figures to decline his $15.0 million player option and re-sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which could further complicate Randle's decision matrix.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of huge
Noun
  • Natalie and a real-estate agent named Dawn (Danielle Brooks), in search of the missing Henry, make their way to the Overworld, too, and the four team up with Steve in a painfully generic adventure to fight off monsters, find another Crystal, save the Overworld (and Dennis), and get back home.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The space monsters are also entirely terrifying, gestating inside young suns to hideously emerge as massive space insects.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of monster
Adjective
  • Even with Hollywood’s diminished state in China, the film business is one sector where the U.S. maintains a sizable trade surplus with its geopolitical rival, as Chinese films, despite their enormous earnings in the home market, have made little headway with mainstream North American moviegoers.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The enormous brown shape offered a perfect broadside target.
    — Jeffrey A. Brunk, Outdoor Life, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of enormous
Noun
  • Like elephants are eating out of our hands and stampeding.
    — Julia Moore, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • For 30 years, former circus elephants have gone to retire at this sanctuary just outside of Nashville.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of elephant

Browse Nearby Words

mammies
mammoth
mammoths
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Cite this Entry

“Mammoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mammoth. Accessed 16 Apr. 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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