Dictionary
colossal
adjective co·los·sal \kə-ˈlä-səl\
: very large or great
Full Definition of COLOSSAL
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a colossus
2
: of a bulk, extent, power, or effect approaching or suggesting the stupendous or incredible <colossal rock formations>
3
: of an exceptional or astonishing degree <a colossal failure>
— co·los·sal·ly \-sə-lē\ adverb
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First Known Use of COLOSSAL
1712
Related to COLOSSAL
- Synonyms
- astronomical (also astronomic), Brobdingnagian, bumper, huge, cosmic (also cosmical), cyclopean, elephantine, enormous, galactic, gargantuan, giant, gigantesque, gigantic, grand, herculean, heroic (also heroical), Himalayan, humongous (also humungous), immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), leviathan, mammoth, massive, mega, mighty, monster, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, oceanic, pharaonic, planetary, prodigious, super, super-duper, supersize, supersized, titanic, tremendous, vast, vasty, walloping, whacking, whopping
- Antonyms
- bantam, bitty, diminutive, infinitesimal, Lilliputian, little bitty, micro, microminiature, microscopic (also microscopical), midget, miniature, minuscule, minute, pocket, pygmy, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee
Synonym Discussion of COLOSSAL
enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large. enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness <an enormous expense> <an immense shopping mall>. huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount <incurred a huge debt>. vast usually suggests immensity of extent <the vast Russian steppes>. gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind <a gigantic sports stadium>. colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions <a colossal statue of Lincoln>. mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk <a mammoth boulder>.
Rhymes with COLOSSAL
COLOSSALLY Defined for Kids
colossal
adjective co·los·sal \kə-ˈlä-səl\
Definition of COLOSSAL for Kids
: very large : huge <a colossal success> <She gave the ball a colossal heave.>
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