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Synonym Chooser

How is the word immense distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of immense are colossal, enormous, gigantic, huge, mammoth, and vast. While all these words 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

When might colossal be a better fit than immense?

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

a colossal statue of Lincoln

When can gigantic be used instead of immense?

While in some cases nearly identical to immense, gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When is huge a more appropriate choice than immense?

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

incurred a huge debt

Where would mammoth be a reasonable alternative to immense?

The words mammoth and immense can be used in similar contexts, but mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When could vast be used to replace immense?

The words vast and immense are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 immense As immense as the rings are, if they and Saturn itself were scaled down to 28 centimeters (11 inches) across, the length of a standard sheet of paper, the rings would be 100 times as thin as the paper! Phil Plait, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025 Trump’s decision to double down in his support of Hegseth was backed by a strong push by the president’s allies on social media, who piled immense pressure on wavering Senate Republicans, including Ernst and Graham, to support the nominee. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025 Suddenly, there is a subgenre of financial news in which bankers coolly assign probabilities to immense changes to the supply chain and adjust valuations accordingly, and executives of companies that depend upon parts from abroad emerge to issue special pleadings. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025 While the potential benefits of AI agents are immense, consumers need to trust these bots with sensitive personal information. Taarini Kaur Dang, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for immense 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for immense
Adjective
  • The Black Lives Matter movement gained enormous attention with its stand against police brutality.
    John Blake, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
  • This guy Puffy, this guy is in an enormous amount of trouble.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Gutekunst said Wyatt was the team’s best interior pass rusher, which is good for him but not great for fellow defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who makes more than $21 million per year.
    Matt Schneidman, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Advertisement Rams Saquon Barkley continues to make history with one of the greatest seasons ever Jan. 19, 2025 After the Eagles’ first possession, which ended with a long touchdown run by quarterback Jalen Hurts, the stadium video board featured a shot of Verse, who was loudly booed.
    Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But the vast majority of the remaining defensive possessions were troubling for a team supposedly tailor-made to stop these very problems in their tracks.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The vast majority of Redditors sided with the teenager, with many saying that asking someone to accommodate house guests during a visit is okay — but not at the cost of basic essentials such as warmth.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Kansas City’s secondary is also excellent at tackling and does a good job of limiting explosive runs.
    Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Both teams are excellent at converting third downs.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Jets’ fourth-round pick in 2024 is also exceeding expectations, bulldozing his way to danger areas while playing a tremendous role in Niagara’s franchise turnaround.
    Murat Ates, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Financial institutions have a tremendous opportunity to step in and offer solutions tailored to these businesses' unique needs.
    Sal Rehmetullah, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Away from the bottle-poppers of Mykonos, but hardly removed from the season’s social buzz, the white-washed, flat-roofed villas that wrap the cliffs of Santorini are wonderful places to while away a summer.
    Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The melty cheese and crispy bread are a wonderful combination.
    Nick Siano, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Although official figures said Lukashenko won by a landslide in 2020, Tsikhanouskaya claimed victory and spearheaded huge protests, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to demand the end of Lukashenko’s regime.
    Christian Edwards, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Luckily, Coach is having a huge sale on a handful of their classic and modern bags and clutches.
    Christopher Murray, Fox News, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • And Kieran Culkin is the highlight of the piece, absolutely terrific in a mercurial and emotional role, and the Golden Globe winner and Screen Actors Guild nominee is the clear favorite to win best supporting actor.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Both specific in its intent and mischievously opaque in its execution, this wilfully strange art project can switch from flip to serious in the blink of an eye, using a terrific cast to weave a trance-like state of oddness that somehow sustains to the finishing line.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Immense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immense. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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