monster
1 of 2noun
mon·ster ˈmän(t)-stər 
plural monsters
1
a
: an animal of strange or terrifying shape
a mythical monster
a sea monster
… visualize this scaleless monster, eight or nine feet long, sprawling in the shade by the side of the mud pools …
W. E. Swinton
W. E. Swinton b
: one unusually large for its kind
That truck is a monster.
That's why I was born in my grandmother's house—a grand, brick Federal monster of a house. John Irving
John Irving2
a
: an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure
b
: one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or character
an immoral monster
3
: a threatening force
the same monster—Destiny … that rolls every civilization to doom W. L. Sullivan
W. L. Sullivan4
: something monstrous
especially : a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty
a cruel monster of a father
5
: one that is highly successful
That movie was a monster at the box office.
monster
2 of 2adjective
: enormous or impressive especially in size, extent, or numbers
Synonyms
Noun
- grotesque
- grotesquerie
- grotesquery
- monstrosity
- ogre
Adjective
- astronomical
- astronomic
- Brobdingnagian
- bumper
- colossal
- cosmic
- cosmical
- cyclopean
- elephantine
- enormous
- galactic
- gargantuan
- giant
- gigantesque
- gigantic
- grand
- herculean
- heroic
- heroical
- Himalayan
- huge
- humongous
- humungous
- immense
- jumbo
- king-size
- king-sized
- leviathan
- mammoth
- massive
- mega
- mighty
- monstrous
- monumental
- mountainous
- oceanic
- pharaonic
- planetary
- prodigious
- super
- super-duper
- supersize
- supersized
- titanic
- tremendous
- vast
- vasty
- walloping
- whacking
- whopping
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun That car is a monster. Inflation has become an economic monster. Adjective The movie turned out to be a monster hit.
Recent Examples on the Web John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2022 There will be entertainment, though, including stock-car racing, monster trucks and a Backyard Concert Series of tribute bands playing the music of the Beatles, No Doubt, Bruno Mars, Van Halen, AC/DC, Billy Joel, Journey, Selena and more. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 Assemble a garland of paper lanterns ($11, Michaels) and use hot glue to attach oversize eyes and paper monster mouths. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 Tellez went on to have a monster game, slugging two homers and driving in four runs as the Brewers held on to win the game, 7-6. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 It’s the monster within that maze, feeding on your flesh. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 Dangerous has been a monster-sized hit on the Billboard 200, becoming one of only four country albums with at least 10 weeks at No. 1 on the chart. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2022 But who’s the real monster in filmmaker Zach Cregger’s Airbnb-of-horrors solo feature debut? Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 Shot like classic monster movies in black-and-white, Werewolf by Night tells the story of Jack Russell, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, who transforms into a werewolf at night due to his family curse. Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2022 Scott Meslow, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2021 This set of beach toys from Kohl's is only $10, and features an adorably themed set of tools like a sifter, rake, shovel, mini-monster truck and more. Felicity Warner, USA TODAY, 29 June 2021 There are other, younger humans in Godzilla vs. Kong, to further tip the monster-human scale in the wrong direction. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 31 Mar. 2021 See More
Noun
Like the monster that keeps reappearing for the sequel of a horror movie, the Government Plaza leaks are back. John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2022 There will be entertainment, though, including stock-car racing, monster trucks and a Backyard Concert Series of tribute bands playing the music of the Beatles, No Doubt, Bruno Mars, Van Halen, AC/DC, Billy Joel, Journey, Selena and more. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 Assemble a garland of paper lanterns ($11, Michaels) and use hot glue to attach oversize eyes and paper monster mouths. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 Tellez went on to have a monster game, slugging two homers and driving in four runs as the Brewers held on to win the game, 7-6. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 It’s the monster within that maze, feeding on your flesh. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 Dangerous has been a monster-sized hit on the Billboard 200, becoming one of only four country albums with at least 10 weeks at No. 1 on the chart. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2022 But who’s the real monster in filmmaker Zach Cregger’s Airbnb-of-horrors solo feature debut? Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 Shot like classic monster movies in black-and-white, Werewolf by Night tells the story of Jack Russell, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, who transforms into a werewolf at night due to his family curse. Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2022 Adjective
As Yennefer runs off with Ciri, Geralt stays behind, and The Witcher delivers one of the better non-monster fight scenes of its entire run. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2021 This set of beach toys from Kohl's is only $10, and features an adorably themed set of tools like a sifter, rake, shovel, mini-monster truck and more. Felicity Warner, USA TODAY, 29 June 2021 There are other, younger humans in Godzilla vs. Kong, to further tip the monster-human scale in the wrong direction. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 31 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English monstre, from Anglo-French, from Latin monstrum omen, monster, from monēre to warn — more at mind
Adjective
from atributive use of monster entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1837, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing monster
Kids Definition
monster
noun
mon·ster ˈmän-stər
1
: a strange or horrible creature
2
: something unusually large
3
: an extremely wicked or cruel person
monsters
noun
1
as in demons
a strange or horrible and often frightening creature both children insisted that their parents check under the bed for monsters every night Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- demons
- ogres
- grotesques
- monstrosities
- grotesqueries
- devils
- terrors
- bogeymen
- horrors
- imps
- abominations
- ogresses
- banshees
- frights
- mutants
- bugaboos
- incubi
- bugbears
- Frankensteins
- abnormalities
- fiends
- bogeys
- bogies
- mutations
- daemons
- bogymen
- incubuses
- freaks
- bêtes noires
- anathemas
2
as in anomalies
a person, thing, or event that is far from normal the gardener destroyed all of the monsters that mutated from his tomato plants Synonyms & Similar Words
- anomalies
- mutations
- monstrosities
- abnormalities
- freaks
- exceptions
- mutants
- weirdos
- deviants
- oddballs
- rarities
- nuts
- kooks
- aberrants
- characters
- malformations
- eccentrics
- abortions
- crackpots
- irregularities
- aberrations
- miscreations
- mavericks
- singularities
- cranks
- individualists
- screwballs
- nonconformists
- curiosities
- peculiarities
- oddities
- crackbrains
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- standards
- normals
- norms
- averages
- specimens
- samples
- pars
- commonplaces
- usuals
3
as in villains
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person the guards at the concentration camps were monsters who enjoyed seeing their victims suffer Synonyms & Similar Words
- villains
- brutes
- beasts
- devils
- criminals
- savages
- bandits
- nazis
- baddies
- offenders
- fiends
- thugs
- assassins
- wretches
- rogues
- gangsters
- scoundrels
- meanies
- rascals
- knaves
- evildoers
- varlets
- heavies
- losers
- miscreants
- scamps
- reprobates
- scalawags
- crooks
- rapscallions
- hounds
- snakes
- perpetrators
- scallywags
- scapegraces
- no-goods
- caitiffs
- serpents
- trespassers
- culprits
- blackguards
- outlaws
- sinners
- felons
- villainesses
- vipers
- lawbreakers
- wrongdoers
- transgressors
- desperadoes
- hoodlums
- ruffians
- cads
- cutthroats
- hooligans
- cons
- malefactors
- heels
- perps
- convicts
- bravoes
- goons
- racketeers
- toughs
- lowlifes
- desperados
- jailbirds
- gunmen
- stinkers
- rowdies
- roughs
- lowlives
- bravos
- trash
- ne'er-do-wells
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- angels
- heroes
- saints
- innocents
4
as in giants
something large of its kind a monster of a sandwich that could easily feed two hearty eaters Synonyms & Similar Words
- giants
- whales
- dinosaurs
- mammoths
- titans
- elephants
- leviathans
- behemoths
- elephant
- hulks
- colossi
- dreadnoughts
- mastodons
- blockbusters
- Goliaths
- giantesses
- jumbos
- whoppers
- amazons
- heavyweights
- juggernauts
- steamrollers
- bulks
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dwarves
- midgets
- pigmies
- dwarfs
- pygmies
- shrimps
- shrimp
- runts
- mites
- weaklings
- peewees
- diminutives
- wisps
- wimps
- lightweights
- nonentities
- half-pints
- twerps
- whippersnappers