monster

American  

[mon-ster] / ˈmɒn stər /

noun

1. a nonhuman creature so ugly or monstrous as to frighten people.

2. any creature grotesquely deviating from the normal shape, behavior, or character.

3. a person who provokes or elicits horror by wickedness, cruelty, etc.

   Synonyms:

   miscreant, devil, demon, brute, fiend

4. any animal or thing huge in size.

5. a legendary animal combining features of animal and human form or having the forms of various animals in combination, as a centaur, griffin, or sphinx.

6. Biology.

   1. an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure, as from marked malformation or the absence of certain parts or organs.

   2. a grossly anomalous fetus or infant, especially one that is not viable.

7. anything unnatural or monstrous.

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adjective

1. huge; enormous; monstrous.

   a monster tree.

monster British  

/ ˈmɒnstə /

noun

1. an imaginary beast, such as a centaur, usually made up of various animal or human parts

2. a person, animal, or plant with a marked structural deformity

3. a cruel, wicked, or inhuman person

4. 1. a very large person, animal, or thing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a monster cake

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verb

1. informal to criticize (a person or group) severely

2. sport to use intimidating tactics against (an opponent)

monster Idioms  

1. see green-eyed monster.

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Other Word Forms

• monsterlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of monster

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English monstre, from Latin mōnstrum “portent, unnatural event, monster,” from mon(ēre) “to warn” + -strum, noun suffix

Example Sentences

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu smiled through a monster free program, clinching the figure skating gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Milan on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

After placing third in the short program, Liu scored a monster 150.20 points in her free skate, the highest mark for a women’s free skate all season in international competition.

From Los Angeles Times

It follows Erica Slaughter, a mysterious woman with a stuffed octopus, who can see the invisible monsters that have been murdering children in a small American town.

From Barron's

As satisfying or convenient as it may be in the short term to describe ICE officers as inhuman monsters, that will ultimately backfire.

From Salon

With the stock trading at such a monster discount, and the possibility of a turnaround at its portfolio companies, it won’t take much for Exor to become a winning bet.

From Barron's

Related Words

• behemoth
• freak
• giant
• whale