gigantean

American  

[jahy-gan-tee-uhn, jahy-gan-tee-uhn, ji-] / ˌdʒaɪ gænˈti ən, dʒaɪˈgæn ti ən, dʒɪ- /

adjective

1. gigantic.

---

Usage

What does gigantean mean? Gigantean is a much less common way of saying gigantic—extraordinarily large or huge. Some things are more than huge—they’re gigantean.Words like gigantic and gigantean are typically applied to physical objects whose size makes you marvel with awe. Blue whales are gigantean. Skyscrapers are gigantean. The Grand Canyon is gigantean.Gigantic is also applied to intangible things, as in a gigantic bill for dinner, or to mean extremely important or significant, as in a gigantic win or a gigantic mistake. It’s possible for gigantean to be used like this, but it’s so rarely used in general that it’s very unlikely to see it used in these ways.Similar adjectives are gargantuan, giant, colossal, and mammoth. A more formal synonym is massive. A more informal synonym is humongous. An even more informal synonym is ginormous (a blend of giant or gigantic and enormous).Example: You don’t realize how gigantean the sun is until you see an image of a planet next to it for scale.

Etymology

Origin of gigantean

1605–15; < Latin gigante ( us ) of giants ( gigant- giant + -eus adj. suffix) + -an

Example Sentences

The world shrine, a gigantean granite Altar to Freedom, will rise 250 feet.

From Time Magazine Archive

The beast skipped out of his way, blaring anger; he came about sharply, gunned his "motor"—if it was that—and rammed the gigantean enemy on the leg.

From Project Gutenberg

She pressed him warmly to her gigantean bosom and again slavered over him with her moist, warm, Hottentot lips.

From Project Gutenberg