enormous

adjective

i-ˈnȯr-məs How to pronounce enormous (audio)
Definition of enormousnext
as in huge
unusually large that pumpkin is so enormous that it has to be a record holder

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word enormous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of enormous are colossal, gigantic, huge, immense, 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 would colossal be a good substitute for enormous?

While in some cases nearly identical to enormous, colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

Where would gigantic be a reasonable alternative to enormous?

The synonyms gigantic and enormous are sometimes interchangeable, but gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When could huge be used to replace enormous?

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

incurred a huge debt

When might mammoth be a better fit than enormous?

Although the words mammoth and enormous have much in common, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When can vast be used instead of enormous?

In some situations, the words vast and enormous are roughly equivalent. However, vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

Example 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 enormous Hubble excels at producing razor-sharp images of individual objects, Webb peers farther back into cosmic history than any telescope before it, and Roman will survey enormous swaths of the sky to reveal how those objects fit into the wider universe. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 But there's an enormous difference between attracting attention and building a sustainable career. — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 And so that the trade deficit would not grow in an enormous way. — Alex Crippen, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 An enormous chunk of glacier around 2,000 feet wide sheared off Langtang Lirung mountain in northern Nepal, accompanied by landslide, according to satellite analysis. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enormous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enormous
  1. huge
  2. vast
  3. tremendous
  4. gigantic
  5. massive
  6. giant
  7. colossal
  8. immense
Adjective
  • Golden Tempo, meanwhile, assumed his position near the back of the field as his deep closing style has delivered huge glory in the past.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • At least 788 people have been killed in Nepal following huge torrents along the Nepal-China border on Wednesday, according to local police.
    — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of huge
Adjective
  • Asked about their firm’s primary hurdle in managing the current trade landscape, the vast majority (57 percent) said policy uncertainty, like tariffs changing with little notice, as their foremost challenge.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Grand Canyon’s vast, mile-deep landscape may appear timeless, but two devastating disasters have recently struck the iconic natural wonder as the climate crisis intensifies extreme weather.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of vast
Adjective
  • Keenum, in his 15th season, remains a tremendous resource for both younger quarterbacks.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • First of all, with its WFI, it's meant to process a tremendous amount of data in relatively short periods of time in order to survey gigantic zones of our cosmos.
    — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of tremendous
Adjective
  • Steinem, who struggled with stage fright most of her life, talked with women at gigantic conferences and in intimate kaffeeklatsches.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But chaos ensues when Nick and Troy hijack one of those parade vehicles that just happens to be equipped with a gigantic nuclear bomb.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of gigantic
Adjective
  • Then, the Iran war started, resulting in massive disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, once one of the world's busiest oil-shipping lanes.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Images of massive fires at oil refineries and warehouses showed up online despite restrictions on publication of content detailing the attacks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of massive
Adjective
  • Consequently, the giant planets can push them even closer to the sun or kick them out of the solar system entirely.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Unfortunately, the fantasy is interrupted by a giant monolith of a middling luxury condo building looming outside.
    — Nora DeLigter, Curbed, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of giant
Adjective
  • Chinese leader Xi Jinping, by comparison, hasn’t just been building colossal scale in priority sectors — robotics, aerospace, green tech.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The two bodies of water are nestled just north of an area where hundreds of people were killed by colossal landslides on the Nepal-China border on Wednesday.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of colossal
Adjective
  • This position — especially once assistant head coach Frank Smith arrived — requires immense mental aptitude.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As trains must cross a structure that shifts constantly with wind and waves, engineers spent years developing unprecedented technologies to handle the immense weight and prevent catastrophic derailments into the water.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of immense

Browse Nearby Words

enormity
enormous
enormously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enormous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enormous. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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