enormous

adjective

enor·​mous i-ˈnȯr-məs 

ē-

1

: marked by extraordinarily great size, number, or degree

especially : exceeding usual bounds or accepted notions

2

a

: exceedingly wicked : shocking

an enormous sin

b

archaic : abnormal, inordinate

enormousness noun

Synonyms

• astronomical
• astronomic
• Brobdingnagian
• bumper
• colossal
• cosmic
• cosmical
• cyclopean
• elephantine
• galactic
• gargantuan
• giant
• gigantesque
• gigantic
• grand
• herculean
• heroic
• heroical
• Himalayan
• huge
• humongous
• humungous
• immense
• jumbo
• king-size
• king-sized
• leviathan
• mammoth
• massive
• mega
• mighty
• monster
• monstrous
• monumental
• mountainous
• oceanic
• pharaonic
• planetary
• prodigious
• super
• super-duper
• supersize
• supersized
• titanic
• tremendous
• vast
• vasty
• walloping
• whacking
• whopping

Choose the Right Synonym for enormous

enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large.

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

huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

Examples of enormous in a Sentence

They live in an enormous house.

We chose not to undertake the project because of the enormous costs involved.

Recent Examples on the Web

And Green Bay seemed in danger of dropping an enormous home game before Jacke rescued them in overtime. —Rob Reischel, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

The stylish, three-level lounge has an enormous chandelier dripping in crystals (two million of them) and has just introduced a new destination-worthy cocktail program. —Ryan Slattery, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2024

But in Manhattan’s enormous Gotham Hall—our very own version of Rome’s Parthenon—there was nothing but watches and people who love them jammed together feeling the horological love. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2024

That moment finally came Sunday with 1:32 left in the first half when Pearsall caught his first reception from teammate Brock Purdy, drawing an enormous cheer from the hometown fans. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin enormis, from e, ex out of + norma rule

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Kids Definition

enormous

adjective

enor·​mous i-ˈnȯr-məs 

: extraordinarily great in size, number, or degree

enormously adverb

enormousness noun