English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

monstrosity

mon-STRO-sih-tee

Monstrosity (noun) means something grotesquely large, ugly, or badly designed. Example: “The new office tower was widely mocked as an architectural monstrosity.”

noun
1
Something grotesquely large, ugly, or badly designed.
"The new office tower was widely mocked as an architectural monstrosity."

How to use monstrosity

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething so ugly, oversized, or poorly made that it shocks or offends the eye.

Common pairings
an architectural monstrosity a total monstrosity

Word forms

monstrosities plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “monstrosity” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The new office tower was widely mocked as an architectural _____.

Etymology

From Middle French monstruosité, ultimately from Latin monstruosus, "monstrous," by surface analysis "monstrous" plus "-ity."

Origin: Latin

monster freak lusus naturae

Related words

Rhymes for monstrosity

See all rhymes for monstrosity →

Frequently asked questions

What does “monstrosity” mean?

The word “monstrosity” means something grotesquely large, ugly, or badly designed. In plain terms, something so ugly, oversized, or poorly made that it shocks or offends the eye.

How do you pronounce “monstrosity”?

“Monstrosity” is pronounced mon-STRO-sih-tee (/mɒnˈstɹɒsɪti/ in IPA).

How do you use “monstrosity” in a sentence?

Here is “monstrosity” used in a sentence: “The new office tower was widely mocked as an architectural monstrosity.”

What part of speech is “monstrosity”?

“Monstrosity” is a noun.

Where does the word “monstrosity” come from?

The word “monstrosity” comes from Latin. From Middle French monstruosité, ultimately from Latin monstruosus, "monstrous," by surface analysis "monstrous" plus "-ity.".

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial