monster

[mon-ster]

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.

adjective

1. huge; enormous; monstrous.

   a monster tree.

monster

/ 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

verb

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

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

Other Word Forms

• monsterlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monster¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of monster¹

C13: from Old French monstre, from Latin monstrum portent, from monēre to warn

Idioms and Phrases

see green-eyed monster.

Example Sentences

Salt was aggressive from ball one, immediately dispatching Marco Jansen for a trio of boundaries, and went on to find the rope no fewer than 23 times, including eight sixes, in his monster knock.

From BBC

The Crunchyroll series “Solo Leveling,” adapted from a South Korean web novel, examines economic inequality through the lens of characters who develop supernatural powers to fight monsters.

From Los Angeles Times

Along with being one of cinema’s most durable monster franchises, “Alien” constantly assesses what it means to be human, and whether our confidence in our supposedly superior intelligence is justified.

From Salon

All that, in turn, serves the larger message of the show, which is that the Millers aren’t sick monsters who hate America, because gosh — that Mrs. Stephen Miller just acts so darn normal.

From Salon

A year ago, Verstappen called his car "a monster" as Red Bull's performance slumped while he tried to fight a rearguard title defence.

From BBC

Related Words

• behemoth 
• freak 
• giant 
• whale