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adverb

chiefly dialect

Synonym Chooser

How is the word monstrous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of monstrous are prodigious, stupendous, and tremendous. While all these words mean "extremely impressive," monstrous implies a departure from the normal (as in size, form, or character) and often carries suggestions of deformity, ugliness, or fabulousness.

the monstrous waste of the project

In what contexts can prodigious take the place of monstrous?

In some situations, the words prodigious and monstrous are roughly equivalent. However, prodigious suggests a marvelousness exceeding belief, usually in something felt as going far beyond a previous maximum (as of goodness, greatness, intensity, or size).

made a prodigious effort and rolled the stone aside

Where would stupendous be a reasonable alternative to monstrous?

Although the words stupendous and monstrous have much in common, stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

When is it sensible to use tremendous instead of monstrous?

The words tremendous and monstrous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

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 monstrous
Adjective
His Getty is both monstrous and emotionally isolated, walled in by a fortune that’s doomed him to misfortune. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024 Zweig is characteristically perceptive on the subject: Obviously, a week after Hitler had come to power the idea of monstrous events such as the burning and public execration of books, to become fact a few months later, was still beyond the comprehension of broad-minded people. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Nov. 2024 As the teen expounds on the monstrous acts her own father committed against her, the elderly woman suggests that Rita is not blameless in the situation. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024 The stock has been volatile amid concerns of a slowdown following several quarters of monstrous revenue growth and lofty guidance beats. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for monstrous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monstrous
Adjective
  • Some fans say folk purists were booing because Dylan was playing electric, while others say the ruckus was merely over the distorted sound.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The clip, with its booming, distorted bass, went viral and quickly racked up almost 9 million uses on the platform.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Prehistoric Rock Art Sites Created 'Multisensory Experience' For Hunter-Gatherers By Aristos Georgiou Science and Health Reporter 0 A collection of prehistoric human remains has revealed gruesome insights into a brutal massacre that took place more than 4,000 years ago.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Police think the gruesome gunshot death is suicide.
    Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Yet another, a gigantic bib of turquoise and malachite beads, yellow and white diamonds, cushion-cut yellow sapphire, and a cushion aquamarine, pays homage to the covert watch necklace with an upside-down timepiece pendant dangling at the end of it.
    Shannon Adducci, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2024
  • With the baseball world heading to Dallas for the Winter Meetings on Sunday, one gigantic question is hovering over the Yankees and the rest of the league: where will Juan Soto sign?
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • In a Hungarian cartoon from around 1951, Churchill is seen as an ugly villain, ready to set households and factories on fire.
    Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
  • For many people, finding the perfect ugly Christmas sweater is an annual tradition.
    Shea Simmons, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Adverb
  • The fields of law and insurance are extremely complicated for the layperson, with documents full of terms and concepts that may as well be a foreign language to those unfamiliar with them.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
  • These functions are easy to compute in one direction and extremely difficult to reverse.
    John Pavlus, WIRED, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Eric Gordon was also supposed to provide some secondary ball-handling off the bench in theory, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old is off to a horrific start this season.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Former detainees at the horrific Saydnaya prison near Damascus said Amer had disappeared in mid-April 2015 after being tortured there.
    Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Her yearlong renovation included the addition of custom millwork, wide-plank flooring, and air-conditioning necessitated by the huge south-facing window that floods the space with sunlight.
    Michael Boodro, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The Eagles came out victorious in front of a raucous Philly crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in a cross-state battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers that could have huge ramifications in the battle for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
    Sam Joseph and, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • No abstract theory regardless of how sincerely held should impede or distract from that hideous, concrete real-world reality.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2024
  • The Menendez trials — the first of the two ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury — became such a sensation in part because of the hideous nature of the crime, but also because of who Lyle and Erik were.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near monstrous

Cite this Entry

“Monstrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monstrous. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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