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 One of the most substantial additions to the area is an enormous dome, unusually shaped like a Tic Tac, emerging from the banks of the Tongjiang River in less than five years. —Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026 Employers are under enormous pressure to adopt AI and ditch employees. —Gary Marcus, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026 The area has clear views of the enormous Space Launch System Rocket and Orion capsule, which will carry humans for the first time on this mission. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026 The economic implications are enormous. —Bobby Jindal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 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
  • There are some really great ones on the market these days, a huge advancement past the egg crate toppers our parents used.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Nola said he was unfazed by taking the mound with a huge lead.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of huge
Adjective
  • Hill said his ability to read an offense comes from his vast experience.
    — Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The oil industry amounts to a vast program of oil relocation and transformation.
    — Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of vast
Adjective
  • Scientists postulate that dolphins’ social nature and seeming empathy can release chemical endorphins in people who interact with them, creating a tremendous feeling of well-being.
    — David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
  • First, this is a tremendous blow to Kristi, who can’t hold a job.
    — Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of tremendous
Adjective
  • The first time the scorebug appeared, it was accompanied by a gigantic advertisement that significantly increased the amount of space the graphic took up and remained for the entire inning.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Grow the infrastructure at Stockton’s gigantic port.
    — Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of gigantic
Adjective
  • For larger groups or families, the already massive two-bedroom penthouse can become a three-bedroom behemoth thanks to an optional adjoining suite.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
  • His Iran deal would have led to a colossal arsenal of massive nuclear weapons for Iran.
    — James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of massive
Adjective
  • Primarily considered a test mission, Artemis II could represent a giant step toward NASA's goal of returning astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo missions came to an end in 1972.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Over the past two years, restaurant and takeout costs have climbed at a faster pace than grocery channels, according to consulting giant McKinsey.
    — John Kell, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of giant
Adjective
  • In order to get the money for these unprecedented projects, data-center providers are beginning to take on colossal amounts of debt.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Brecher's image reveals the 30-light-year-wide emission nebula NGC 2359, whose bubble-like form was sculpted by the stellar wind blasting out from the colossal Wolf-Rayet star at its heart.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of colossal
Adjective
  • Any movement of this mass can be measured to immense precision.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
  • In a three-part series last year, Mississippi Today reported on the immense vulnerability the state faces to climate change, which some researchers argued is greater than anywhere else in the country.
    — ALEX ROZIER, ABC News, 3 Apr. 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 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on enormous

Nglish: Translation of enormous for Spanish Speakers

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