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.
: enormous or impressive especially in size, extent, or numbers
Examples of monster in a Sentence
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
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 June 2025
These are no longer simple monster features with slight tints of horror.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 June 2025
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Asian currencies have made monster moves versus the U.S. dollar.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for monster
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Noun
Aptly credited, The Stranger (Brian Villalobos) is only part of that problem and not the centerpiece practical effects portion of this film that monster fans should look forward to.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 June 2025
These are no longer simple monster features with slight tints of horror.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 June 2025
Adjective
And perhaps no one has had more to live up to than Nate O’Donnell.
O’Donnell, a senior infielder/pitcher, had a monster junior season.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Asian currencies have made monster moves versus the U.S. dollar.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for monster
Cite this Entry
“Monster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monster. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
monster
1 of 2 noun
mon·ster
ˈmän(t)-stər
1
: an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure
2
: a strange or horrible creature
3
: something unusually large
4
: an extremely wicked or cruel person
monster
2 of 2 adjective
: very large : enormous
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