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

Examples 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
Star architect Peter Marino, who spearheaded the mammoth redesign of The Landmark in recent years, also popped in to say hello. Freya Drohan, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025 Mitigating these risks is a mammoth task for companies, governments, and society. Arvind Narayanan, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
The term refers to a group of massive elephant-like species, like the mammoth. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024 Published in the journal Science Advances, the study represents the first direct evidence that the Paleoindian Clovis culture relied heavily on mammoths—in addition to other megafauna—for food. Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mammoth 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mammoth
Adjective
  • There's a gigantic piece of pizza, a burger complete with lettuce and tomato slices and, of course, meatballs.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Tyson last fought a sanctioned fight in 2005 , losing a sixth-round TKO to gigantic Irishman Kevin McBride, a fighter of little renown beyond that win.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Campbells have been known to just sit on a terrace with a local beer keeping a look-out for those whales while giant icebergs float past.
    Roger Sands, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
  • In recent years, large numbers of whales have washed ashore up and down the East Coast, including in New Jersey and Massachusetts.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Those are giant movies, so there’s a lot of expectations and there’s a lot of money.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Parson turned his corner lot into a showcase of creativity, beginning with a giant cutout of Bigfoot.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • One of the favorites is the playable lineages based on dinosaur families.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • For example, Joslin said an upcoming dinosaur program will be presented by MC Rose, a naturalist with a geology degree.
    Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The song not only became a huge viral hit, but also reached the No.1 position for the first time in history, a milestone that also represents a breakthrough for the traditional carranga music genre, which has recently found a new place in the music industry.
    Ingrid Fajardo, Billboard, 15 Jan. 2025
  • However, there are a huge number of potentially harmful contaminants that are not regulated, meaning that their levels in drinking water are neither monitored nor controlled.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Set in a new location with new monsters, Wilds introduces a new type of mount, new monsters, an improved wound system, focus mode, and a new tool called the hook slinger.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Are we meant to sympathize with this creature as people scream in terror and call it a monster and attack it and scream for it to be shot?
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Black Lives Matter movement gained enormous attention with its stand against police brutality.
    John Blake, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Already, the fighting has ceased in Gaza which provides enormous relief to the people there who have been living in very difficult circumstances now for more than a year, not to mention the just unconscionable circumstances the hostages have found themselves in.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • For the mammoth, that animal is the Asian elephant.
    Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Maybe most striking, however, is the case of Tip, an Asian elephant shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to a New York City zoo in the late 1880s.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near mammoth

Cite this Entry

“Mammoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mammoth. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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