Synonym Chooser

How is the word gigantic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of gigantic are colossal, enormous, huge, immense, mammoth, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When is colossal a more appropriate choice than gigantic?

The words colossal and gigantic can be used in similar contexts, but colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How do enormous and immense relate to one another, in the sense of gigantic?

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 might huge be a better fit than gigantic?

While the synonyms huge and gigantic are close in meaning, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

When could mammoth be used to replace gigantic?

While in some cases nearly identical to gigantic, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When can vast be used instead of gigantic?

In some situations, the words vast and gigantic are roughly equivalent. 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 gigantic But Stevie Wonder turned into a gigantic swing-and-miss. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025 That suggests a truly gigantic body length of 24.3 m (79.7 ft) and a weight of about 94 tons (85 tonnes). Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2025 My administration is also working on a gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska, among the largest in the world where Japan, South Korea and other nations want to be our partner with investments of trillions of dollars each. NPR, 5 Mar. 2025 Then try Wilmot’s Warehouse, a strangely cheerful take on working in a gigantic storage warehouse. Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gigantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gigantic
Adjective
  • The trend, which was huge in the 2010s in a memorable patchwork pattern, is actually a super comfortable way to rock shorts while traveling.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 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
Adjective
  • The detection of Neptune's auroras will help astronomers better understand how particles from the sun interact with its atmosphere, providing a new area of study about ice giant planets.
    Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • In it, the man explained how his fiancée had eaten the giant cupcake that his daughter was planning to give to her friend as a birthday surprise, due to her pregnancy cravings.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • An underwater camera confirmed the enormous Māori octopus (Octopus maorum) was alive and actively moving.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The play still brought in an enormous $3.28 million, and played to a more than 100 percent capacity with an average ticket price of $298.83.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Hauraki Gulf is a vast and ecologically rich body of water that stretches from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Health officials bracing for deep cuts within NIOSH include workers at the agency's Pittsburgh and Spokane offices, where some 200 staff — the vast majority of those working out of the locations — are expected to be impacted, according to a notice sent to their union.
    Alexander Tin, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, the massive curved claws — close to 1 foot (30 centimeters) in size — belonged to a creature unearthed in what’s now Mongolia.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Hood takes Littlejohn’s massive hand and the floodgates open, the big man crying fat tears that roll down his face to the gurney below.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Frank is a business leader, with a tremendous track record of transforming large corporations.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • In fact, Holloway was regarded as a tremendous athlete on his draft day, and the worry surrounded his ability to score in the NHL.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet, with any colossal success, there can always be backlash, with some criticizing the higher alcohol levels.
    Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The storms moving and forming across the country arrived just days after a colossal system barreled across the U.S., killing at least 42 people.
    Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Think of home runs in baseball, and the fan’s mind races to the mammoth distances a ball can fly when slugged right on the nose, or a history-making chase that captivates a nation.
    Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Two days later, on September 10, at the mammoth Royal Albert Hall in London, Bernstein and the orchestra played the work yet again.
    David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gigantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gigantic. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gigantic

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!