monster

monster — noun

1. a frightening creature that exists only in stories, myths, or legends, usually w

1.nounB1
Definition

a frightening creature that exists only in stories, myths, or legends, usually with a strange or unnatural appearance and often very large

Example

The storybook showed a green monster with three eyes and sharp yellow teeth.

described with body parts: monster + with + features

Lara told her little brother that monsters only exist in fairy tales and movies.

Common collocations
  • imaginary monster
  • mythical monster
  • sea monster
  • frightening monster
  • monster story
Synonyms
  • creature

    more neutral and general; does not imply frightening or unnatural qualities

  • beast

    suggests a large, wild, animal-like quality, often but not always scary

  • giant

    emphasizes enormous size rather than frightening or evil nature

Usage Note

Commonly described with specific physical features such as size, number of eyes, colour, or body parts. Often appears in children's literature, mythology, and fantasy films.

Common Mistakes

Monsters are exist in many cultures.
Monsters exist in many cultures.
'exist' is a verb; do not add 'are' before it.

2. a person whose behaviour is extremely cruel, evil, or harmful to others, especia

2.nounB1
Definition

a person whose behaviour is extremely cruel, evil, or harmful to others, especially in a way that seems inhuman

Example

The prison guards behaved like monsters who treated the prisoners with no respect at all.

behave like a monster: describing behaviour

Chidi called his former business partner a monster for stealing money from the charity fund.

call + someone + a monster + for + [reason]

Common collocations
  • call someone a monster
  • behave like a monster
  • heartless monster
  • evil monster
Synonyms
  • villain

    usually refers to a character in a story rather than a real person; somewhat theatrical

  • brute

    emphasizes physical violence and lack of reasoning rather than evil intent

  • fiend

    more old-fashioned and dramatic; suggests someone who enjoys causing pain

Usage Note

Often used as a strong accusation or insult. The accusation is typically backed by describing or implying the person's specific cruel actions.

Common Mistakes

He is such monster!
He is such a monster!
'monster' is a countable noun and must be preceded by a determiner like 'a'.

3. something that is surprisingly or impressively large in size, such as a building

3.nounB2
Definition

something that is surprisingly or impressively large in size, such as a building, a vehicle, or a natural object

Example

The new stadium is a glass and steel monster that towers over the old town.

a + [material] + monster: describing size through material

Sahil's dog grew into a monster that weighed over sixty kilograms and needed special food.

Common collocations
  • a monster of a...
  • concrete monster
  • ugly monster
  • glass and steel monster
Synonyms
  • giant

    can be used as a noun similarly; often more neutral in tone

  • colossus

    more formal and literary; usually refers to a statue or a very powerful entity

Grammar Patterns

a monster of a + noun

Usage Note

Common in the informal pattern 'a monster of a [noun]' (e.g., a monster of a wave, a monster of a bill). The thing described is often but not always ugly or difficult to manage.

Common Mistakes

That building is monster.
That building is a monster.
As a countable noun, 'monster' needs an article or determiner.
Idioms

the green-eyed monster

idiom

jealousy, especially sexual jealousy or envy in a close relationship — a literary expression

The green-eyed monster took hold of him when he saw his partner laughing with an old friend.

monster — adjective

monster — verb

Word family

  • monstrous
    adjectiveB2
  • monstrosity
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words describe non-human (or barely human) beings, their connotations differ in important ways. Monster emphasises strangeness and threat — something that looks or behaves in an unnatural, frightening way. Creature is the most neutral and general term, covering any living thing that is not a plant, from a tiny insect to a mythical being, without implying good or evil. Beast suggests a large, powerful, and wild animal-like quality; it can be dangerous but does not necessarily carry supernatural overtones. Giant specifically highlights enormous size rather than moral character or fear. For example, a cave creature might be harmless, a forest beast might simply be wild, and a giant might be gentle — but a monster in a story is almost always meant to terrify the characters and the reader.

monster ↗creature ↗beast ↗giant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sea monster
  • monster truck
  • monster movie
  • monster story

Phrases

  • a monster of a...

Prepositions

  • monster of
  • monster from

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'monster' comes from the Latin 'monstrum', which originally meant a divine omen or warning — something unusual that was seen as a sign from the gods. In medieval times the meaning shifted to refer to strange or deformed creatures, and later to any imaginary frightening being. The sense of a cruel person developed as a metaphor (comparing a person's evil acts to those of a mythical monster), while the adjective meaning 'very large' grew from the traditional idea that monsters are typically huge in size.