Synonyms of monstrous

monstrous 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmän(t)-strəs 

1

as in distorted

badly or imperfectly formed

a monstrous melon that was clearly not fit to eat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distorted
• mutant
• misshapen
• deformed
• malformed
• shapeless
• ugly
• horrible
• terrible
• crooked
• horrific
• freakish
• abnormal
• disproportionate
• asymmetric
• unequal
• aberrant
• lopsided
• disfigured
• asymmetrical
• unbalanced
• unattractive
• irregular
• defaced
• nonsymmetrical
• overbalanced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• perfect
• undeformed
• flawless
• shapely

2

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

the monstrous measures taken by the dictator against anyone who opposed his regime

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• nightmare
• horrible
• terrible
• frightening
• horrifying
• terrifying
• hideous
• terrific
• dreadful
• awful
• nightmarish
• appalling
• horrid
• scary
• grisly
• ghastly
• sickening
• macabre
• frightful
• horrendous
• atrocious
• lurid
• disgusting
• formidable
• fearful
• grewsome
• grotesque
• ugly
• alarming
• obscene
• loathsome
• repulsive
• fearsome
• abominable
• heinous
• revolting
• dire
• odious
• unspeakable
• intimidating
• direful
• offensive
• abhorrent
• repugnant
• obnoxious
• deplorable
• evil
• vile
• forbidding
• disagreeable
• redoubtable
• gut-wrenching
• bloodcurdling
• noxious
• distasteful
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• nauseating
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attractive
• delightful
• pleasant
• delicious
• welcome
• satisfying
• appealing
• delectable
• agreeable
• enticing
• enjoyable
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

3

as in gigantic

unusually large

a monstrous tomato as big as a basketball

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gigantic
• huge
• enormous
• giant
• vast
• tremendous
• massive
• colossal
• mammoth
• immense
• monster
• monumental
• astronomical
• titanic
• astronomic
• bumper
• mountainous
• mighty
• big
• gargantuan
• sizable
• oversized
• heroic
• humongous
• cosmic
• great
• prodigious
• oceanic
• grand
• oversize
• mega
• herculean
• planetary
• cyclopean
• humungous
• cosmical
• elephantine
• whopping
• galactic
• super
• heroical
• jumbo
• considerable
• majestic
• pharaonic
• substantial
• supersized
• formidable
• Himalayan
• handsome
• vasty
• leviathan
• king-size
• staggering
• good
• gigantesque
• imposing
• king-sized
• Brobdingnagian
• whacking
• supersize
• extensive
• major
• sizeable
• gross
• outsized
• voluminous
• super-duper
• walloping
• bulky
• hefty
• tidy
• overgrown
• infinite
• outsize
• grandiose
• hulking
• stupendous
• overwhelming
• goodly
• largish
• lofty
• cavernous
• towering
• monolithic
• immeasurable
• august
• boundless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tiny
• diminutive
• miniature
• microscopic
• minuscule
• infinitesimal
• micro
• bitty
• microscopical
• pocket
• pygmy
• wee
• little bitty
• teeny
• small
• Lilliputian
• midget
• puny
• teensy
• minute
• little
• smallish
• mini
• undersized
• petite
• undersize
• microminiature
• bantam
• teeny-weeny
• teensy-weensy
• dinky
• dwarfish
• pint-sized
• pint-size
• half-pint

4

as in ugly

unpleasant to look at

some monstrous high-rises have begun to spoil that lovely residential neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ugly
• hideous
• grotesque
• unpleasing
• awful
• disgusting
• vile
• unattractive
• unsightly
• unappealing
• unlovely
• homely
• horrible
• unbeautiful
• ill-favored
• abominable
• loathsome
• sickening
• repulsive
• appalling
• uncomely
• horrid
• revolting
• unhandsome
• unpretty
• abhorrent
• repugnant
• dreadful
• repellent
• nauseating
• gross
• distasteful
• nauseous
• repellant
• noisome
• unbecoming
• plain
• frumpy
• unshapely
• unaesthetic
• frumpish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beautiful
• handsome
• stunning
• attractive
• gorgeous
• lovely
• aesthetic
• pretty
• beauteous
• goodly
• ravishing
• cute
• fair
• good-looking
• seemly
• comely
• knockout
• esthetic
• drop-dead
• fetching
• taking
• aesthetical
• shapely
• impressive
• imposing
• bonny
• sightly
• well-favored
• esthetical
• bonnie
• prepossessing

monstrous

2 of 2

adverb

chiefly dialect

as in extremely

to a great degree

a monstrous pretty gal, she was

Synonyms & Similar Words

• extremely
• incredibly
• damned
• very
• terribly
• damn
• highly
• badly
• too
• severely
• so
• jolly
• desperately
• really
• super
• full
• mighty
• seriously
• that
• real
• such
• far
• wildly
• wicked
• greatly
• awful
• intensely
• most
• deadly
• heavily
• much
• good and
• exceptionally
• especially
• exceeding
• beastly
• fantastically
• roaring
• fiercely
• awfully
• absolutely
• passing
• extra
• immensely
• particularly
• fabulously
• frightfully
• specially
• bone
• rattling
• exceedingly
• sore
• supremely
• utterly
• filthy
• whacking
• way
• almighty
• eminently
• hugely
• thumping
• cracking
• dang
• uncommonly
• totally
• remarkably
• surpassingly
• enormously
• vitally
• mortally
• colossally
• vastly
• achingly
• positively
• thoroughly
• a lot
• completely
• stinking
• spanking
• sorely
• deeply
• corking
• archly
• ever
• roaringly
• entirely
• as all get-out
• blisteringly
• mightily
• wholly
• unco
• majorly
• downright
• significantly
• right
• profoundly
• considerably
• flat-out
• noticeably
• fully
• radically
• visibly
• obviously
• purely
• monstrously
• substantially
• notably
• extensively
• markedly
• palpably
• monumentally
• obscenely
• altogether
• plainly
• astonishingly
• discernibly
• excessively
• staggeringly
• grandly
• amazingly
• plentifully
• appreciably
• astronomically
• abundantly
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• little
• somewhat
• slightly
• nominally
• negligibly
• just
• scarcely
• barely
• hardly
• minimally
• meagerly
• scantily
• marginally

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of monstrous

Adjective

Those rules are broken and the results are messy, monstrous and metaphorical in a hilariously jaw-dropping hoot about beauty and self-worth. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025

At one point the manifestations of James’ dread and guilt become, to him, at least, very real, and monstrous. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

The laidback veterinarian soon ends up joining the other characters on an expedition into Hollow Earth, an area that is the home to gigantic and monstrous creatures. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025

The universe could be packed with many more monstrous black holes ravenously feeding on their surrounding material than previously suspected. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Jan. 2025