colossal

adjective co·los·sal \ kə-ˈlä-səl \

Updated on: 1 Dec 2017

Definition of colossal

1 : of, relating to, or resembling a colossus

colossal statues

2 : of a bulk, extent, power, or effect approaching or suggesting the stupendous or incredible

colossal rock formations

colossal stellar explosions

3 : of an exceptional or astonishing degree

a colossal failure

a colossal bore

colossal ambition

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colossally

play \kə-ˈlä-sə-lē\ adverb

See colossal defined for English-language learners

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Examples of colossal in a Sentence

a colossal statue of the town's founder

Recent Examples of colossal from the Web

An Audience Growth editor for the Star-Telegram, Roger is more familiar with traditional burgers and was somewhat intimidated by all the exotic, colossal and often messy offerings.

— star-telegram, "Burger Battle 2017: Meet the judges | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 19 Oct. 2017
Adult Kevin’s a colossal idiot and didn’t tell the medic on the set of his movie that his knee is messed up.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "'This Is Us' Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: Kate Finds Out Something Life-Changing," 17 Oct. 2017
Is the West—and the U.S. in particular—making a colossal error of judgment in not grasping that there is something suicidal about abandoning a brave and loyal ally in favor of its adversaries?

— bernard-henri lévy, WSJ, "The Kurds Confront a New ‘Gang of Four’," 9 Oct. 2017
While colossal flooding seen during Harvey may not be the primary threat from Irma, some parts of Florida could see as much as 20 inches of rain.

— editors, The Courier-Journal, "When will Hurricane Irma make landfall in Florida?," 9 Sep. 2017
Flooding from burst levees, as well as the colossal tidal surge driven by winds, essentially filled the bowl.

— author: kathleen parker, Alaska Dispatch News, "We’d best heed the warning in Harvey," 2 Sep. 2017
The innovative drive lives in every human brain, and the resulting war against the repetitive is what powers the colossal changes that distinguish one generation from the next, one decade from the next, one year from the next.

— anthony brandt and david eagleman, Smithsonian, "Where Do New Ideas Come From?," 31 Oct. 2017
Fast-forward six years to 2010, when Democrats suffered colossal electoral defeats in state legislative races.

— dahlia lithwick, Slate Magazine, "The Perfect Redistricting Case," 2 Oct. 2017
Mothership Meat Company 27-20 40th Ave.; opens late Sept. Josh Bowen (of John Brown Smokehouse fame) cooks brisket in a super-colossal J&R pit and serves it Texas-meat-market style — i.e., plopped onto butcher’s paper and priced by the pound.

— robin raisfeld, Daily Intelligencer, "Life in Long Island City, the Country’s Fastest-Growing Neighborhood," 7 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'colossal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of colossal

see colossus

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First Known Use: 1664

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colossal Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of colossal

enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large. enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness.

- an enormous expense
- an immense shopping mall

huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

- incurred a huge debt

vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

- the vast Russian steppes

gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

- a gigantic sports stadium

colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

- a colossal statue of Lincoln

mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

- a mammoth boulder

COLOSSAL Defined for English Language Learners

colossal

adjective

Definition of colossal for English Language Learners

: very large or great

COLOSSAL Defined for Kids

colossal

adjective co·los·sal \ kə-ˈlä-səl \

Definition of colossal for Students

: very large : huge

a colossal success

She gave the ball a colossal heave.

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See words that rhyme with colossal Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for colossal Spanish Central: Translation of colossal Nglish: Translation of colossal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of colossal for Arabic speakers

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Origin and Etymology of colossal

colossal Synonyms

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COLOSSAL Defined for English Language Learners

colossal

Definition of colossal for English Language Learners

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colossal

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