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

The radical left has become more and more like the characters in a Charles Dickens novel, crammed to the seams with amiable idiots and moral monstrosities. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025

Even with Birdy’s brute strength the fights are inventively staged, and Kawajiri directs each one with a lot of charm, as well as trademark oozing monstrosities. —Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025

After a mediocre entry in 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage—which began as Valhalla DLC and was developed by B-team Ubisoft Bordeaux—Shadows is an all-in, massive budget monstrosity led by the very Aist of teams. —ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025

There are cybernetic monstrosities like Darth Vader and General Grievous and witches like the Nightsisters. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for monstrosity

• atrocity
• ferocity
• pomposity
• porosity
• precocity
• schistosity
• velocity
• verbosity
• viscosity
• animosity
• curiosity
• generosity

Kids Definition

monstrosity

noun

mon·​stros·​i·​ty män-ˈsträs-ət-ē 

plural monstrosities

1

: the condition of being monstrous

2

: something monstrous : monster