prodigious
Americanadjective
-
extraordinary in size, amount, extent, degree, force, etc..
a prodigious research grant.
- Synonyms:
- tremendous, gigantic, huge, immense, enormous
- Antonyms:
- tiny
-
wonderful or marvelous.
a prodigious feat.
- Synonyms:
- miraculous, wondrous, astounding, stupendous, amazing
- Antonyms:
- ordinary
-
abnormal; monstrous.
-
Obsolete. ominous.
adjective
-
vast in size, extent, power, etc
-
wonderful or amazing
-
obsolete threatening
Other Word Forms
- prodigiously adverb
- prodigiousness noun
- unprodigious adjective
- unprodigiously adverb
- unprodigiousness noun
Etymology
Origin of prodigious
First recorded in 1545–55, prodigious is from the Latin word prōdigiōsus marvelous. See prodigy, -ous
Explanation
Something exceptional, substantial, or great is prodigious. A blizzard includes prodigious wind and snow. A prodigious writer is one who can write a lot and do it well. Prodigious is a word for things that are impressive. If you have prodigious strength, you're very strong. If your cat had a prodigious litter of kittens, then you've got a houseful of kittens. This is a strong word that's also kind of formal. Save it for things that really blow you away because of their quality or quantity. A little drizzle isn't a prodigious rain, but a storm that floods a whole city certainly is.
Vocabulary lists containing prodigious
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Julius Caesar
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But unlike Ruth, who gave up pitching once he established himself as a prodigious slugger, Ohtani actually does both at the same time.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
So far, the Olympics committee has backed Wasserman, with allies saying he’s a strong leader and prodigious fundraiser.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
Maye is a prodigious ball-carrying runner who is also the league's best at throwing long-range passes.
From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026
They’re using prodigious cash flow to reward shareholders: Snack food companies are cash flow machines.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026
And so, in consequence, there are infinite habitable worlds; what hinders? ... these and suchlike insolent and bold attempts, prodigious paradoxes, inferences must needs follow, if it once be granted which ...
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
