adj Uncommon

monstrous

MONST-ruhs

Monstrous (adj) means Shockingly evil or cruel. Example: “The crimes committed were monstrous beyond words.”

adj

Shockingly evil or cruel.

"The crimes committed were monstrous beyond words."

Extremely, almost unbelievably large.

"A monstrous wave crashed over the sea wall."

How to use monstrous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither horrifyingly cruel, or huge to a shocking degree.

Common pairings

a monstrous crime a monstrous size

more monstrous comparative, most monstrous superlative

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The crimes committed were _____ beyond words.

From Old French monstrueuse, ultimately from Latin monstrosus — from the same root as "monster."

Origin: Latin

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

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.