monster

[ mon-ster ]

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.

adjective

1. huge; enormous; monstrous:

   a monster tree.

monster

/ 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

verb

1. informal.
   to criticize (a person or group) severely
2. sport to use intimidating tactics against (an opponent)

Other Words From

• monster·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monster¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English monstre, from Latin mōnstrum “portent, unnatural event, monster,” from mon(ēre) “to warn” + -strum, noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of monster¹

C13: from Old French monstre, from Latin monstrum portent, from monēre to warn

Idioms and Phrases

see green-eyed monster .

Example Sentences

Fifty-five years ago, preschoolers were captivated by the TV performance of a fuzzy blue monster, two striped shirt-wearing best friends and a big yellow bird.

From Los Angeles Times

"A captor attempts to feed his prisoner to a monster, and there are other scenes of threat involving bombs, hostages and a hero being frozen alive."

From BBC

Frankenstein has, indeed, created his monster, who abandons him for greater gains.

From Salon

She also spoke after the first assassination attempt on her husband, calling for unity and labelling the perpetrator a “monster”.

From BBC

Americans have seemingly embraced a known monster, someone who sells political violence and hatred, who tried to overthrow the last election.

From Salon

Related Words

• behemoth
• freak
• giant
• whale