monstrous
4 synonyms and 1 antonym for monstrous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Shockingly evil or cruel.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Shockingly evil or cruel.
“The crimes committed were monstrous beyond words.”
2. adj
Extremely, almost unbelievably large.
“A monstrous wave crashed over the sea wall.”
Opposites
How to use monstrous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a monstrous crime
a monstrous size
Etymology
From Old French monstrueuse, ultimately from Latin monstrosus — from the same root as "monster."
Full origin of monstrous →Frequently asked questions
What does “monstrous” mean?
The word “monstrous” means shockingly evil or cruel. In plain terms, either horrifyingly cruel, or huge to a shocking degree.
How do you pronounce “monstrous”?
“Monstrous” is pronounced MONST-ruhs (/ˈmɑnstɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “monstrous” in a sentence?
Here is “monstrous” used in a sentence: “The crimes committed were monstrous beyond words.”
What part of speech is “monstrous”?
“Monstrous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “monstrous” come from?
The word “monstrous” comes from Latin. From Old French monstrueuse, ultimately from Latin monstrosus — from the same root as "monster.".
Is “monstrous” a common word?
“Monstrous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “monstrous” have?
“Monstrous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: shockingly evil or cruel.
