gigantic

adjective

gi·​gan·​tic jī-ˈgan-tik 

jə-

: exceeding the usual or expected (as in size, force, or prominence)

gigantically

jī-ˈgan-ti-k(ə-)lē 

jə-

adverb

Synonyms

• astronomical
• astronomic
• Brobdingnagian
• bumper
• colossal
• cosmic
• cosmical
• cyclopean
• elephantine
• enormous
• galactic
• gargantuan
• giant
• gigantesque
• grand
• herculean
• heroic
• heroical
• Himalayan
• huge
• humongous
• humungous
• immense
• jumbo
• king-size
• king-sized
• leviathan
• mammoth
• massive
• mega
• mighty
• monster
• monstrous
• monumental
• mountainous
• oceanic
• pharaonic
• planetary
• prodigious
• super
• super-duper
• supersize
• supersized
• titanic
• tremendous
• vast
• vasty
• walloping
• whacking
• whopping

Choose the Right Synonym for gigantic

enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large.

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

huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

Examples of gigantic in a Sentence

a raccoon got into the trash and now there's a gigantic mess in our backyard

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, many nonprofit hospitals are gigantic enterprises that profit not only from caring for patients but also from a broad variety of sophisticated and lucrative businesses, such as investing, insurance, and joint ventures. —Ge Bai, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

That’s a gigantic philosophical and moral question. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2024

By Christian Allaire September 24, 2024 This past New York Fashion Week, the models on Luar’s spring 2025 runway emerged wearing gigantic shield shades. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2024

At one point, two backing dancers performed unsynchronized choreography in gigantic shark costumes. —Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek gigantikos, from gigant-, gigas giant

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gigantic

adjective

gi·​gan·​tic jī-ˈgant-ik 

: being beyond the ordinary or expected (as in size, weight, or strength)