monstrosity

noun

mon·​stros·​i·​ty män-ˈsträ-sə-tē 

plural monstrosities

1

a

: a malformation of a plant or animal

b

: something deviating from the normal : freak

2

: the quality or state of being monstrous

the monstrosity of the tsunami's devastation

3

a

: an object of great and often frightening size, force, or complexity

this monstrosity, the atomic bomb

b

: an excessively bad or shocking example

The new mall is an architectural monstrosity.

Synonyms

• abnormality
• anomaly
• freak
• monster

Examples of monstrosity in a Sentence

Did you see the new mall? It's a monstrosity.

any monstrosities born to the farm animals were sent to the agricultural college for study

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite some of her monstrosities, Rose is always hungry and human, a woman at war with her circumstances, her abandonment issues and a desire to carve out a better life for herself and her daughters. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024

Valued at $153, this monstrosity of a gift includes brands like Ellis Brooklyn, Roz, Tower 28, and Ceremonia. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 29 Nov. 2024

Such reminders that monstrosity is in the eye of the beholder could easily feel trite or forced, but Gunn capably balances them with a pitch-black sense of humor. —Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024

Despite an English teacher shutting down the party, the teenagers’ lives soon take a turn for the worse as evil monstrosities are unleashed. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

monstrosity

noun

mon·​stros·​i·​ty män-ˈsträs-ət-ē 

plural monstrosities

1

: the condition of being monstrous

2

: something monstrous : monster