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Synonym Chooser

How is the word prodigious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of prodigious are monstrous, stupendous, and tremendous. While all these words mean "extremely impressive," prodigious suggests a marvelousness exceeding belief, usually in something felt as going far beyond a previous maximum (as of goodness, greatness, intensity, or size).

made a prodigious effort and rolled the stone aside

When is monstrous a more appropriate choice than prodigious?

The meanings of monstrous and prodigious largely overlap; however, monstrous implies a departure from the normal (as in size, form, or character) and often carries suggestions of deformity, ugliness, or fabulousness.

the monstrous waste of the project

When would stupendous be a good substitute for prodigious?

The words stupendous and prodigious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

When might tremendous be a better fit than prodigious?

While the synonyms tremendous and prodigious are close in meaning, tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

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 prodigious Pick up a roomy, BPA-free plastic bottle to fuel you on hikes, petite or prodigious, or opt for a stainless steel sipper to keep your bev icy cold from 9 to 5. Annie Blackman, Allure, 12 Mar. 2025 Considering his prodigious size (6-4, 313), Harmon likely locked himself in as a first-rounder by running a 4.95 40-yard dash with a 1.74 10-yard split in Indy. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025 Besides that prodigious scientific output, Hawking was a prolific science communicator. Paul Sutter, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025 However, the prodigious amounts of snow and ice that are common in the area in winter can make even notionally accessible places far less so during several months of the year. Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prodigious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigious
Adjective
  • Saints received a tremendous pop from the crowd to begin the Stand & Deliver card.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • So-so athlete, but a tremendous leader who was voted captain by his team each of the last two seasons.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Katy Perry reportedly sang ‘Its a wonderful world,’ Gayle King beamed in zero gravity, as Lauren Sánchez—pilot, philanthropist, and Jeff Bezos’s fiancée, led Blue Origin’s first all-female crew to the edge of space.
    Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • There’s the potential to still reach 94 points, which might not quite have the same sheen to it as the 99 points achieved by Liverpool’s last title-winning side in 2019-20 but should still be recognised as a wonderful achievement.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Dozens of David Bowie Albums Have Cracked the Top 10 Throughout his unparalleled career, Bowie racked up an enormous number of top 10s on the Official Physical Albums chart.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The Jaguars kicked off the night with a bang, executing an enormous trade to move up for Hunter.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Tom Hanks narrates this examination of the astonishing variety of life on a supercontinent stretching from northern Canada to the bottom of South America.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2025
  • This is the astonishing dialectical power of the moment.
    D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The vast majority of people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide – 70% have no further attempts.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • New satellite imagery shows Iran reinforcing a vast underground complex near the country's main uranium enrichment site, according to an analysis by the Institute for Science and International Security.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This soulful part of Phuket is dotted with colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, hidden temples, a vibrant art scene, and plenty of amazing restaurants and bars.
    Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • What an amazing display of Mother Nature at her finest.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Scammers convince you to take cash to a bitcoin ATM Her story highlights one huge red flag that consumers must watch out for these days — how scammers are convincing you to take cash to a crypto ATM at the local party store, gas station or grocery.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The overall approach—making scientists prove why mining shouldn’t happen in specific parts of a huge area, without the data to do so—frustrated scientists.
    Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • All of this is made possible through the elegant, limitlessly expressive writing system that is musical notation, which is as miraculous as the alphabet itself, and can be used for purposes every bit as varied.
    Matthew Aucoin, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
  • From $280 Book now This transformation of the historic and stately National Bank into the Riggs hotel is nearly miraculous.
    Laura Dannen Redman, AFAR Media, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prodigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigious. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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