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
  • There’s still men — there’s Benson, who’s doing amazing.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 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
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of astonishing
Adjective
  • Still, Maye was able to make a miraculous pass for the first down, throwing against the grain.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • The three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air within that tropical biosphere hold, in their DNA, the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2025
Definition of miraculous
Adjective
  • 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
  • The vast majority, if not all, of these entries lacked the originality, the spark, and the incredible production values of the original.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 31 May 2025
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • The Six Senses Milan, which will open early next year, is the most marvelous project.
    — Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • America may be getting regulated into wan electroluminescence, but the marvelous Ms. Seltzer and her pack of canine companions will not go gentle, or dimly, into that good night.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 31 May 2025
Definition of marvelous
Adjective
  • The announcement, though abrupt, was not altogether surprising: City leaders have fretted the loss of Blue Diamond since the 1990s, and the cooperative has been steadily cutting costs in recent years.
    — Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
  • Keep in mind that a spicy square between Mars and Uranus on June 15 could also lead to romantic developments or surprising revelations, spontaneously or behind the scenes.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of surprising
Adjective
  • 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
  • Even more stunning is that every one of us is unique and different.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 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 10 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of stupendous for Spanish Speakers

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