Monstrous Meaning
/ˈmɑnstɹəs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjHideous or frightful.
adjEnormously large.
Sentence Examples
The building is a monstrous structure.
The prisoners were treated with monstrous cruelty.
We're all going to be eaten by a monstrous talking shrubbery.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ dragon was terrifying to all who saw it in the kingdom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dictator was accused of committing several ____ crimes against his own people during the long and very violent civil war.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English monstrous, from Old French monstrueuse, monstrüos, from Latin mōnstrōsus. Compare monstruous. By surface analysis, monster + -ous.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"So bad a death argues a monstrous life."
— c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:
"The chiding billovv ſeemes to pelt the cloudes, / The vvinde ſhak'd ſurge, vvith high and monſtrous mayne, / Seemes to caſt vvater, on the burning Beare, […]"
— c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 21:
"Possibly monster pumpkins may become still more monstrous by the shoots being ringed, and so may other vegetables and fruits where quality is of less importance than mere size."
— 1901 December 20, “The Ringing of Plants”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 21, page 663:
"Mr. Burns is similarly perfectly cast as a heartless capitalist willing to do anything for a quick buck, even if it means endangering the lives of those around him and Marge elegantly rounds out the main cast as a good, pure-hearted and overly indulgent woman who sees the big, good heart (literally and metaphorically) of a monstrous man-brute."
— 2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 15 Aug 2012:
"The irregular and monstrous births"
— 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 3, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ dragon was terrifying to all who saw it in the kingdom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dictator was accused of committing several ____ crimes against his own people during the long and very violent civil war.