stupendous

adjective

stu̇-ˈpen-dəs How to pronounce stupendous (audio)
Definition of stupendousnext
as in marvellous
causing wonder or astonishment the stupendous engineering feats achieved by the ancient Romans

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stupendous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of stupendous are monstrous, prodigious, and tremendous. While all these words mean "extremely impressive," stupendous implies a power to stun or astound, usually because of size, numbers, complexity, or greatness beyond description.

a stupendous volcanic eruption

In what contexts can monstrous take the place of stupendous?

The words monstrous and stupendous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, monstrous implies a departure from the normal (as in size, form, or character) and often carries suggestions of deformity, ugliness, or fabulousness.

the monstrous waste of the project

When is prodigious a more appropriate choice than stupendous?

Although the words prodigious and stupendous have much in common, prodigious suggests a marvelousness exceeding belief, usually in something felt as going far beyond a previous maximum (as of goodness, greatness, intensity, or size).

made a prodigious effort and rolled the stone aside

Where would tremendous be a reasonable alternative to stupendous?

While in some cases nearly identical to stupendous, tremendous may imply a power to terrify or inspire awe.

the tremendous roar of the cataract

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stupendous Dear brothers and sisters: In the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, death and life contended in a stupendous struggle, but the Lord now lives forever (cf. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025 Opulent, But Moreover Confident Before slapping on the Manufaktur-rich veneer of opulence, the 2025 Mercedes G550 is a stupendous SUV. —Peter Nelson, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 Adebayo was stupendous early; Herro was magnificent in the second half. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025 Since Frick’s 1919 death, this stupendous museum has added countless gifts and acquisitions. —Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stupendous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stupendous
  1. wonderful
  2. amazing
  3. astonishing
  4. miraculous
  5. incredible
  6. marvelous
  7. surprising
  8. stunning
Adjective
  • Your wonderful dog may or may not hanker to break routine and go on holiday.
    — John Oseid, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 27 May 2025
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • Comments Chloe Fineman has explained how that amazing triple Jennifer Coolidge impression — Fineman, Dana Carvey, and host Ariana Grande — landed on Saturday Night Live.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 28 May 2025
  • Following the amazing Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake from the end of last year, the other two parts of the Erdrick Trilogy are being combined into one game.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of amazing
Adjective
  • There isn’t a huge amount of that, but the fact that the robots are fighting at all is astonishing.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • Regardless of his personal situation, what Enrique has done to this PSG side has been nothing short of astonishing.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
Definition of astonishing
Adjective
  • There’s conflict in everything, in the clashing of worlds and the fight for a world that makes sense to believe in, yet miraculous poetry and optimism somehow, too.
    — Ella Kemp, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
  • Their survival, staff say, is nothing short of miraculous.
    — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Definition of miraculous
Adjective
  • These incredible snakes exemplify how relatively simple modifications can unlock entirely new modes of life and will continue to inspire biomimetic designs in engineering and robotics.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Head to the historic Stonewall Inn for a day of drag-out-loud fun while raising funds for two incredible charities based at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Community Church: the Global Justice Institute and Sylvia’s Place, one of the city’s largest LGBTQ+ shelters and food pantries.
    — Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • And then there's just so many marvelous actors in it that are just really putting forth really impressive work.
    — Esther Kang, People.com, 26 May 2025
  • This is a marvelous role for Skarsgard, who gets to play up Gustav’s self-importance and lack of accountability along with his flirtatious charm as the movie progresses.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Definition of marvelous
Adjective
  • The Cardinals certainly hope that’s the case, as their rotation has been a surprising strength.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • Since then, podcasts have gone mainstream, and are as ubiquitous as cell phones – not surprising considering 70% of listeners use their mobile phones to tune in.
    — Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of surprising
Adjective
  • Even more stunning is that every one of us is unique and different.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Ahead of its launch on Prime Video on June 12, The Traitors India has unveiled its look, with 20 players attempting to identify the betrayers among them at the stunning Suryagarh Palace in Rajasthan.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 May 2025
Definition of stunning

Browse Nearby Words

stupefying
stupendous
stupendously
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Cite this Entry

“Stupendous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupendous. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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