mastodon

noun

ˈma-stə-ˌdän How to pronounce mastodon (audio)
Definition of mastodonnext
as in whale
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful mom-and-pop stores just can't compete with these mastodons of retailing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 mastodon Other species recovered from the cave, including mastodons and ground sloths, are rare in the region. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026 Ground sloths and mastodons are linked to forest habitats. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026 For example, utility workers once uncovered an ancient bone fragment from a mastodon. — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 The frieze, estimated to be about 12,500 years old, depicts massive ice age beasts thought to have once roamed South America, including mastodons and ground sloths the size of a car. — Laura Bassett, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mastodon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mastodon
  1. whale
  2. dinosaur
  3. giant
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
  6. elephant
Noun
  • Eventually, the whale breaches the surface and Jay nearly manages to break free by climbing out of its open mouth.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the natural beauty of the Golden State is offset by the graphic body horror of the whale’s innards, built on practical sets by production designer Ramsey Avery and lit by bioluminescence.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • According to the researchers, the dinosaur suffered a broken rib during its lifetime.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While dinosaurs roamed the earth, giant monsters roamed the sea.
    — October 16, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • No word on if there may be a deal for the duo to land over at the streaming giant as the company prepares for a few big theatrical releases ahead.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In response, the streaming giant has sought to diversify its content in recent years, expanding into live sports, documentaries and video games in order to compete for share of consumer attention.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • Diagnose the monster before deciding which mind and which move are required to outwit it.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That led him to snowy Deadwood, South Dakota, and a turn as local guide Gil Jackson in the horror heist movie Beast From Haunted Cave (1959), produced by Roger’s brother, Gene Corman, and featuring Chris Robinson as the monster.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • In ancient California, they are believed to have existed alongside other extinct native species, including bison-sized Jefferson’s ground sloths, Columbian mammoths and western camels.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • See fossils of the 14-foot, 20,000-pound mammoths that used to roam around Texas.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mammoth
Noun
  • The 18-year-old female elephant got loose from her handler outside her enclosure, then went on the run, demolishing the door of a saloon on North Avenue, smashing in the window of another and walking through the fence around a vacant lot.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of using labels, Alkhatib talks his guests through the treasures, which include a marble model of the Taj Mahal, a geode from Morocco and a silver elephant sculpture from Sri Lanka.
    — Dina Cheney, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of elephant

Browse Nearby Words

masticating
mastodon
mastodons
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Cite this Entry

“Mastodon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mastodon. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mastodon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mastodon

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