gigantic

adjective

jī-ˈgan-tik How to pronounce gigantic (audio)
Definition of giganticnext
as in huge
unusually large a raccoon got into the trash and now there's a gigantic mess in our backyard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gigantic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of gigantic are colossal, enormous, huge, immense, mammoth, and vast. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When is colossal a more appropriate choice than gigantic?

The words colossal and gigantic can be used in similar contexts, but colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How do enormous and immense relate to one another, in the sense of gigantic?

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 might huge be a better fit than gigantic?

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

incurred a huge debt

When could mammoth be used to replace gigantic?

While in some cases nearly identical to gigantic, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

When can vast be used instead of gigantic?

In some situations, the words vast and gigantic 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 gigantic Meanwhile, Congress appears likely to pass a budget that features a gigantic budget deficit. —John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 But after a while—two million to three million years for the gigantic star’s supernova, and 30 million years for the smaller supernova—the debris halo became sufficiently chilled. —Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025 Monstrous Nightmares are large Stoker Class dragons that have long, snake-like necks and tails with sharp spines and a gigantic mouth capable of swallowing a Viking. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 May 2025 The user plays as a lowly Tarnished eager to help a mysterious woman named Melina get to a gigantic golden tree called the Erdtree. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gigantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gigantic
  1. huge
  2. giant
  3. enormous
  4. vast
  5. massive
  6. tremendous
  7. colossal
  8. mammoth
Adjective
  • The sixth installment in Warner Bros. and New Line’s long-running horror property, in which people die in increasingly insane incidents, is a huge hit.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 June 2025
  • During a period of huge tax cuts, from George W. Bush in 2001 through the present, there was gross fiscal irresponsibility inflicted by both Republicans and Democrats.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
Definition of huge
Adjective
  • In one shot, the former Philadelphia Eagles center, 37, posed with a giant pancake in his hands.
    — Erin Clements, People.com, 6 June 2025
  • This places it in the upper echelons of a type of planet called super-Earths — giant, probably rocky worlds.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of giant
Adjective
  • The enormous success of Prey showed us that the best Predator stories may be the truly standalone ones.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 June 2025
  • Each of the 15 adults-only villas has an enormous deck and plunge pool, and includes features like fire pits and indoor-outdoor showers.
    — Jake Emen, Robb Report, 12 June 2025
Definition of enormous
Adjective
  • Secretly Group was founded in Bloomington, Indiana in 1996 and its vast roster includes Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, Angel Olsen and many more and the labels Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory Records and Secretly Canadian.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 10 June 2025
  • The hybrid online program offers an in-depth exploration of the secondhand textile system, focusing on how vast quantities of clothing end up in Africa.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 June 2025
Definition of vast
Adjective
  • DeBlois dials the cuteness quotient back somewhat while giving this massive animal a genuine presence.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 June 2025
  • While riggers hung massive lights and construction workers assembled the stage on a grueling day before Tyler Childers‘ June 2024 concert at the United Center, three young locals showed up: Cheryl, Larry and Ted.
    — Steve Knopper, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Definition of massive
Adjective
  • Our beloved community, including League City, San Leon, Dickinson High School, and The Houston Film Commission, were tremendous resources for us.
    — Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 June 2025
  • But in a city where incumbents are rarely shown the door, and where public employee unions have tremendous clout, our leaders don’t care.
    — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
Definition of tremendous
Adjective
  • In early 2025, the company made a breakthrough with the colossal woolly mouse, sharing parts of the woolly mammoth’s DNA and proving the scientists’ ability to recreate complex genetic combinations that took nature millions of years to create.
    — Emma Kershaw, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • Around one-third of the world’s fish stocks are overfished, including those in Southeast Asia, where China operates a colossal fishing operation.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 June 2025
Definition of colossal
Adjective
  • Related article Scientists created a ‘woolly mouse’ with mammoth traits.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 June 2025
  • The young adults enjoyed a juicy burger, a mammoth chicken pesto sandwich and the porketta sandwich topped with spicy giardinera, which is one of my favorite sandwiches in the Twin Cities.
    — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 12 June 2025
Definition of mammoth

Browse Nearby Words

gigantesque
gigantic
gigantism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gigantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gigantic. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on gigantic

Nglish: Translation of gigantic for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All