A hideous monster used to live there.
Source: tatoeba (28320)
Monster
/ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/
Synonyms for "monster" (262 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (53)
Noun(16 words)
Strong matches (78)
Noun(18 words)
cyclopeancyclopsdeformitydemondevildevil incarnatedinosaurdogdraculadragondrakeechidnaelephantelephantineenormousepicextensiveeyesorefee-faw-fumfiend
Show 39 more words
fiend from hellfire eaterfire-eaterfirebrandfrankensteinfreakfreak of naturefrightfrightenerfurygalacticgargantuangargoyleghostghoulgiantgiantlikegiganticgoongorgongorillagriffingunselhaghardnoseharpyharridanhell raiserhell-raiserhellcathellhoundhellionhellkiteherculeanheroichippohippocampushippopotamushobgoblin
Adjective(1 words)
dangerous creature
Related words (131)
holy terrorhomerichoodhoodlumhorrorhotheadhotspurhugehydraimmeasurableimmenseincendiaryincubusinfinitejumbokillerking sizeking-sizelamialarge
Show 95 more words
leviathanloch ness monstermad dogmadcapmafiosomammothmassivemassymastodonmedusamermaidmermanmessmightyminotaurmiscreationmissing linkmonstrositymonstrousmonumentalmountainousmuggermutantmutationnightmarenixieno beautyogreogressoutsizeovergrownpegasusphantomprodigiousprofoundpythonrapistrevenantrevolutionaryrocsalamandersatyrsavagescarebabescarecrowscarerscyllasea horsesea serpentshe-wolfsightsirensizablespaciousspectersphinxspitfirestupendoussuccubustalosteratismtermagantterrorterroristtigertigresstitanictoughtough guytoweringtremendoustrolltyphonugly customerugly ducklingunicornvampirevastviolentviragovixenvoluminouswallopingweightywerewolfwhalewild beastwindigowitchwolfwolf manwolf-manxiphopagusyoung turkzombie
Noun(13 words)
Adjective(3 words)
mythological beingugly ogrewild creature
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: behemoth, colossus, fiend, giant, abortion.
- Sentence evidence is available for monster, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "monster".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "monster"
Keep "monster" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "monster" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "monster", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "monster" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesfictional monstergiant monstermonster storymonster truckmythical monsterscary monster
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
15 translations across 11 languages.
Afrikaans
1 entries- monster noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Bulgarian
1 entries- изверг noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Catalan
1 entries- monstre noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Finnish
1 entries- hirviö noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Galician
1 entries- monstro noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Greek
1 entries- τέρας noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Irish
1 entries- ainmhí noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Italian
1 entries- mostro noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Māori
2 entries- nauhea noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
- nauwhea noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Polish
1 entries- potwór noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Russian
4 entries- и́зверг noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
- монстр noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
- не́людь noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
- чудо́вище noun (anti-social person, especially a criminal)
Sample sentences
47 total sentences available.
Rex was a monster of a dog.
Source: tatoeba (29507)
Even the most graceful and imposing existing buildings may now be so sadly diminished as to seem slightly ridiculous beside the monster.
Source: tatoeba (36687)
Then, with a final, terrible scream, the monster flung itself off the mountain to its death on the rocks below.
Source: tatoeba (43183)
Showing 4 of 47 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "monster"?
Closest matches include behemoth, colossus, fiend, giant, abortion.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "monster"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.