monstrous 1 of 2

1
2
3
4

monstrous

2 of 2

adverb

chiefly dialect

Synonym Chooser

How is the word monstrous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of monstrous are prodigious, stupendous, and tremendous. While all these words 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

In what contexts can prodigious take the place of monstrous?

In some situations, the words prodigious and monstrous are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Where would stupendous be a reasonable alternative to monstrous?

Although the words stupendous and monstrous have much in common, stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

When is it sensible to use tremendous instead of monstrous?

The words tremendous and monstrous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

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 monstrous
Adjective
Those rules are broken and the results are messy, monstrous and metaphorical in a hilariously jaw-dropping hoot about beauty and self-worth. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025 At one point the manifestations of James’ dread and guilt become, to him, at least, very real, and monstrous. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025 The laidback veterinarian soon ends up joining the other characters on an expedition into Hollow Earth, an area that is the home to gigantic and monstrous creatures. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025 The universe could be packed with many more monstrous black holes ravenously feeding on their surrounding material than previously suspected. Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for monstrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monstrous
Adjective
  • Many of the photos are rarely seen, including some of distorted celebrity photos that were commissioned by major magazines.
    Matt Shaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Originally appearing as a bonus track on last year’s greatest-hits compilation, Science Fiction, the song is reimagined here into a glitchy, distorted club cut.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • On September 2, 1885, in one of the most gruesome episodes of racial terror in American history, a group of white miners killed at least twenty-eight Chinese residents in Rock Springs and burned down the town’s Chinese quarter.
    Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The Fallen Sun stands out not just as a cop procedural, but also as a thriller that never shys away from the gruesome nature of the killer’s crime spree.
    Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Acoustic Sounds occupies a hodgepodge of squat industrial buildings in Salina, a city of about 50,000 near the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states, where grain elevators and a gigantic frozen pizza plant jut out from the flat plains landscape.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Some knobby with new growth, some short or gigantic, some suffering or shrunken, some reaching over paths and roads.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Or the constitutional dystopia in which we are now caught, beside which even the ugliest onscreen villainy pales into insignificance?
    Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The advanced metrics paint an ugly picture for the Suns as well over that span: 114.0 OffRtg (11th), 117.3 DefRtg (27th), -3.2 NetRtg (21st).
    Evan Sidery, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • This shows us how much of a reach influencers can have and, in my experience, influencer collaborations can be extremely fruitful in hospitality PR.
    Emily Reynolds Bergh, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • And in a heartwarming turn of events, Wayans is extremely supportive of his child.
    Abby Monteil, Them, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The horrific apparent overdose came a day after a drug-dealing operator of a Bronx day care was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the death of a toddler exposed to fentanyl and the overdoses of three other children who survived.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Read Next California Toddler disfigured by burns in ‘horrific’ child endangerment case in CA.
    Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Running over a year off-Broadway has been a dream come true, and has set us up for huge success nationwide.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Photo : Miroslav Cik A huge terrace wraps around the house, providing lots of space for alfresco dining and relaxing.
    Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • When the youth miracle drug turns to body horror, Moore becomes the decaying mutation called Gollum, made to look like a slow-progressing disease, while Moore and her younger incarnation (played by Margaret Qualley), merge into the hideous Monstro.
    Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025
  • But the idea of a woman who is kind of crippled, or is struggling physically, to have the one and only thing that is supporting her, kicked out from underneath her is so vile and hideous.
    Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Monstrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monstrous. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on monstrous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!