mammoth 1 of 2

mammoth

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mammoth distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mammoth are colossal, enormous, gigantic, huge, immense, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When might colossal be a better fit than mammoth?

Although the words colossal and mammoth have much in common, colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How are the words enormous and immense related as synonyms of mammoth?

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 would gigantic be a good substitute for mammoth?

The words gigantic and mammoth can be used in similar contexts, but gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When can huge be used instead of mammoth?

In some situations, the words huge and mammoth are roughly equivalent. However, huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

Where would vast be a reasonable alternative to mammoth?

The meanings of vast and mammoth largely overlap; 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 mammoth
Adjective
Columbian mammoth fossils have been unearthed in several states, including California, Utah, and Nevada, and even as far south as Costa Rica, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 12 Mar. 2025 The mammoth spending power doesn’t tell the entire story, the report stated. Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
Now, scientists say most of the mammoths used to build the site were female, which suggests the Ice Age hunter-gatherers were hunting or scavenging from herds, rather than trapping lone males. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025 On the other block were two Knicks, a behemoth, Karl-Anthony Towns, and forward OG Anunoby, who were responsible for one mammoth, Jonas Valančiūnas, who had wrecked the Knicks on the glass all night. Fred Katz, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mammoth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mammoth
Adjective
  • Then try Wilmot’s Warehouse, a strangely cheerful take on working in a gigantic storage warehouse.
    Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Explaining this, the paper proposes that the gigantic impact which formed the roughly 1,600 mile (2,500 kilometers) wide SPA basin around 4.2 billion years ago modified the chemical and physical properties of the moon's mantle in this region.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • When krill numbers fell again, so did the whales’ songs.
    Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • After dealing with whales and black swans and two of every creature on Noah’s Ark, Darren Aronofsky is going back to the animal kingdom for his next film.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 18 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
Noun
  • Smaller dinosaurs and other creatures were caught in the mud, unable to escape.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Travelers can get their hands dirty and track down ancient dinosaur fossils, jewels and more treasures through excursions across the country.
    Perri Ormont Blumberg Fox News, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s realistically the only addition that would make a huge splash at the position.
    Manny Navarro, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • There has been tremendous Democratic energy and anger in recent weeks, with progressives disrupting Republican lawmakers’ town hall meetings and holding huge rallies.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Fing turns out to be as much as a destructive monster as Myrtle, who in turn, has to battle it out with the evil animal park owner, The Viscount, who is determined to own this rarest of creatures.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Fing turns out to be as much as a destructive monster as Myrtle, who in turn, must battle it out with the evil animal park owner, The Viscount (Waititi), determined to own this rarest of creatures.
    Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Last weekend's enormous storm spun 100 tornadoes so far confirmed by the National Weather Service, which is still conducting surveys.
    John Bacon, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The property also comes with an enormous 5,282 square feet of garage space and 2,295 square feet of covered porches and loggias.
    David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Hippos and elephants often show up near the communal terrace.
    Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Every year, hundreds of people around the world are killed or injured by elephants due to conflict between humans and elephants, conversation groups said.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mammoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mammoth. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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