monstrosity

American  

[mon-stros-i-tee] / mɒnˈstrɒs ɪ ti /

noun

plural

monstrosities

1. the state or character of being monstrous.

2. a monster or something monstrous.

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monstrosity British  

/ mɒnˈstrɒsɪtɪ /

noun

1. an outrageous or ugly person or thing; monster

2. the state or quality of being monstrous

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Etymology

Origin of monstrosity

1545–55; < Late Latin mōnstrōsitās, equivalent to Latin mōnstrōs ( us ) monstrous + -itās -ity

Explanation

A monstrosity is something so hideous that you can hardly stand to look at it, like a zombie or an ugly modern building. A monster can certainly be described as a monstrosity, but so can anything that is as frightening or disgusting as a monster. A dictator's cruel regime is a monstrosity, and so is a three-headed fish. The word comes from the Latin word for monster, monstrum, with a root, monere, that means "warn," from the tradition of interpreting monstrous, deformed animals as omens — or warnings — of bad luck.

Example Sentences

Now there’s nothing to be done about it, including the fact that he plans to put a humongous monstrosity in its place — a large-scale ballroom that will dwarf the People’s House.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

And so was the Kennedy Center in its monstrosity.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Hughes pointed to the impact of the United States' 15-megaton Bravo test at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands on March 1, 1954 -- "equivalent to 1,000 Hiroshima bombs -- an absolute monstrosity".

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

While sympathizing with the need for more affordable housing, Maupin said in a video posted on Facebook that Align’s proposal is “a bit of a monstrosity, from the pictures I’ve seen.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

Even if Natasha were still here, I wouldn’t know where to go in the glass monstrosity of a building.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon