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

Which makes her the perfect mate for a lonely bachelor monster.

From The Wall Street Journal

The monster’s missus comes with as much narrative anticipation as Godot.

From Los Angeles Times

I’d make up stories about it: tales of a land that only existed in Bubbe’s attic, with a princess imprisoned in a tower and a monster standing guard outside the big bolted doors.

From Literature

A picture of the cliffs, great monsters with the wind screaming, tearing.

From Literature

The movement that once shielded Owens is now discovering that monsters raised on grievance do not recognize fences.

From Salon

Related Words

• behemoth
• freak
• giant
• whale