colossal

adjective

co·​los·​sal kə-ˈlä-səl How to pronounce colossal (audio)
Synonyms of colossal
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a colossus
colossal statues
2
: of a bulk, extent, power, or effect approaching or suggesting the stupendous or incredible
colossal rock formations
colossal stellar explosions
3
: of an exceptional or astonishing degree
a colossal failure
a colossal bore
colossal ambition
colossally
kə-ˈlä-sə-lē How to pronounce colossal (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of colossal

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enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large.

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

huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

Examples of colossal in a Sentence

a colossal statue of the town's founder
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The most successful animal artist of all time is surely Edwin Landseer (1802-1873), perhaps most recognizable for the four colossal sculptures of lions guarding the base of Nelson’s Column, in London’s Trafalgar Square. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 Fertility startups have proliferated and expanded across the country, undergirded by colossal private equity and venture capital investments seeking returns. — Pooja Yerramilli, STAT, 28 Oct. 2026 His producers find a shadowy space between the headrush of cloud rap and the glitchiness of PC Music hyperpop, where everything sounds colossal and darkly palatial. — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026 The Rockies and the Pacific ranges are now latticed with ultra-fancy resort towns, with colossal lodge-like houses and high-end restaurants and shops. — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colossal

Word History

Etymology

see colossus

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of colossal was in 1664

Rhymes for colossal

See All Rhymes for colossal

Browse Nearby Words

Colossae
colossal
colossality
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colossal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colossal. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

colossal

adjective
co·​los·​sal kə-ˈläs-əl How to pronounce colossal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a colossus
especially : of very great size
a colossal office building
2
: extraordinary, exceptional
colossal growth
a colossal failure
colossally
-ə-lē How to pronounce colossal (audio)
adverb
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