monumental

adjective

mon·​u·​men·​tal ˌmän-yə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce monumental (audio)
1
: serving as or resembling a monument : massive
monumental sculptures
also : highly significant : outstanding
a monumental painting that stunned the American public
2
: of or relating to a monument
modern monumental architecture
3
: very great
a monumental misunderstanding
monumentality noun
monumentally adverb

Examples of monumental in a Sentence

It's more than a mistake; it's a case of monumental stupidity. the monumental complexity of the issue Repairing the damage will be a monumental task. The class was about modern monumental architecture.
Recent Examples on the Web Visitors flit between the monumental swimming pool crowned with a glass roof, the thermal pools surrounded by regal lion heads spurting water and walls of Zsolnay porcelain tiles, and the pummeling outdoor wave pool that opens at the end of May every year. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 Part of the monumental Balboa Park complex of museums, this institution is known not only for its aircraft, but its in-depth exhibits of famous aviators, including the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart, as well as its extensive library and archives. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2024 One of its co-founders is Judith Baca, whose monumental horizontal mural along the Tujunga Wash in the San Fernando Valley changed many Angelenos’ POV about graffiti art. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Joy Randolph concluded her monumental awards season with the win for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars on Sunday. Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Every March 8, about 300 monumental papier-mâché bulls are hauled into the streets of Tultepec, as an offering to accompany the figure of St. John in an iconic procession. Fernanda Pesce and Alexis Triboulard, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 Being away from Earth for such a lengthy time means astronauts are at risk of missing some pretty monumental elections. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 The record will build on what is already been a monumental 2024 for Ice Spice, who was nominated for four Grammys at the ceremony earlier this year. Thania Garcia, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 The supermarket industry has over the past decade seen a monumental shift in the quality and assortment of store brand products including the development of organic, better-for-you and higher quality foods. Phil Lempert, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monumental.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of monumental was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near monumental

Cite this Entry

“Monumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monumental. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

monumental

adjective
mon·​u·​men·​tal ˌmän-yə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce monumental (audio)
1
: of or relating to a monument
2
: serving as or resembling a monument : massive
also : highly significant : outstanding
3
: very great
monumental stupidity
monumentally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on monumental

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!