Colossal – Meaning, Synonyms and Examples

Do you want to enhance your English Vocabulary? This article explores the meaning, pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms, and usage examples of the COLOSSAL.

Meaning of Colossal

• Extremely large.

Synonyms of Colossal

• Huge
• Massive
• Vast
• Immense
• Tremendous
• Monumental
• Great
• Enormous

Example of Colossal

• Our teachers have given us a colossal amount of homework to do during the holiday.
• I never thought an aeroplane could be that colossal until I visited the airport.
• A colossal amount of people were either killed or went missing in the Indian Ocean tsunami that occurred in 2004.

FAQs about the Word “Colossal”

Q1. What does the word “colossal” mean?
A: “Colossal” means extremely large or immense in size, amount, or importance.

Q2. Is “colossal” a positive or negative word?
A: It can be either, depending on the context. For example, a “colossal success” is positive, but a “colossal mistake” is negative.

Q3. What are some examples of “colossal” used in a sentence?
A: One example is: “The stadium was a colossal structure that could hold over 80,000 people.”

Q4. What are synonyms for the word “colossal”?
A: Common synonyms include enormous, huge, massive, vast, monumental, and tremendous.

Q5. Can “colossal” be used to describe non-physical things?
A: Yes, it can describe anything large in scale, including emotions, efforts, mistakes, or amounts of work.

Q6. What is the origin of the word “colossal”?
A: It comes from the Latin colossus, meaning a giant statue, and the Greek kolossos, meaning a huge figure.

Q7. Can the word “colossal” be used in IELTS writing and speaking?
A. Yes, “colossal” is a high-level adjective that can enhance your IELTS Writing and Speaking scores. It shows vocabulary range and is especially effective when describing large amounts, major problems, or significant impacts.

Q8. How might the word “colossal” appear in the IELTS Reading or Listening test?
A. In IELTS Reading or Listening, “colossal” might be used in articles or talks about natural disasters, historical structures, or economic challenges. Understanding its meaning—extremely large—will help you answer comprehension questions more accurately.

Q9. What is the difference between “plethora” and “colossal”?
A. Plethora is a noun that means an excessive or overabundant amount of something (e.g., a plethora of ideas). Colossal is an adjective meaning extremely large in size or extent (e.g., a colossal building). They are not synonyms but may appear together in descriptive sentences.