Brobdingnagian

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Brobdingnagian" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is enormous or gigantic, often in a humorous or exaggerated context. Example: "The Brobdingnagian statue in the park towers over all the other sculptures, making them look like toys."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

ALTHOUGH not of Brobdingnagian proportions, Gulliver is 6'2 in his socks and big enough to fear for his comfort when flying.

The Economist

Slabs of fallen ice in the sulphurous crater of a volcano look like broken Brobdingnagian porcelain, hardened lava spills like molten chocolate.

The Economist

This is a land of Brobdingnagian portions, where regular means enormous and large means... well, frankly absurd.

Independent

And then along came the Lounge — fresh but classy, Brobdingnagian yet indefatigable, a consistently tasteful shade of yellow.

The New Yorker

A hulking vertical loop clad in glass and steel, oma's creation looked less like an office building than like a Brobdingnagian sculpture.

The New Yorker

(Today, a few of these Brobdingnagian plants remain open, and it is from these places that ice sculptors get their ice).

The New Yorker

For "Liquid Sky," the pair has topped telephone poles with colorful pieces of Mylar and installed them at jaunty angles around P.S. 1's courtyard, like Brobdingnagian drink umbrellas.

The New Yorker

Still, the real drama, and the comedy, begins not with the arrival of the newlyweds but with the arrival of the estate's nosy, mischief-making neighbor, Tropatchov (Frank Langella), who flounces in uninvited — if someone of Langella's Brobdingnagian stature can be said to flounce, and, based on the evidence, he can — in order to check out the new owners.

The New Yorker

I was struck by the pech's Brobdingnagian appetite for wood, and went to see if we could make a change.

The New Yorker

As for the Brobdingnagian bass, it had been donated to a friend.

The New Yorker

In 1979, Koons exhibited ready-made blown-up vinyl flowers, set against mirrored tiles; more recently, he's produced Brobdingnagian balloon animals, fabricated in seductively reflective stainless steel.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Brobdingnagian" when you want to evoke a sense of exaggerated scale or a connection to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. It adds a literary flair to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "Brobdingnagian" too frequently, especially in contexts where a simpler word like "gigantic" or "enormous" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The word "Brobdingnagian" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate immense size or scale. Ludwig examples show it describing physical objects like sculptures and buildings, as well as abstract concepts such as appetites or efforts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Brobdingnagian" is a grammatically sound adjective used to describe something exceptionally large, drawing its origin and impact from Gulliver's Travels. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples confirms its frequent use in news and media, and is considered a creative choice to evoke an exaggerated sense of scale. When considering using "Brobdingnagian", it's best to keep in mind its potential to add a literary flavor to your writing, be mindful of overuse in formal settings and it is also worth considering synonyms like "gigantic", "enormous", and "colossal" for clarity. Ultimately, as Ludwig AI also confirms, understanding the context will allow you to improve your selection of the most precise and impactful language in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Gigantic

This term directly implies a very large size, similar to "Brobdingnagian", but without the literary reference.

Enormous

This is a common and versatile synonym for very large, lacking the specific cultural context of "Brobdingnagian".

Immense

This suggests a scale that is beyond ordinary measurement, similar in magnitude to "Brobdingnagian".

Colossal

This emphasizes the monumental nature of something, similar to the exaggerated scale implied by "Brobdingnagian".

Vast

This describes something that spreads out widely, capturing the sense of great extent found in "Brobdingnagian".

Prodigious

This highlights the extraordinary and often unnatural size, mirroring the sense of wonder associated with "Brobdingnagian".

Monumental

This suggests a size worthy of a monument, capturing the imposing nature implied by "Brobdingnagian".

Humongous

This is an informal term for something very large, used to exaggerate the perceived size, similar to "Brobdingnagian".

Extensive

This conveys the idea of a large area or scope, offering a different angle on the immense size captured by "Brobdingnagian".

Substantial

This describes something of considerable size or amount, emphasizing the significance of its scale, like "Brobdingnagian".

FAQs

What does "Brobdingnagian" mean?

"Brobdingnagian" describes something that is enormous or gigantic in size, drawing a reference from the land of giants in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.

How do I use "Brobdingnagian" in a sentence?

You can use "Brobdingnagian" to describe physical objects (e.g., "The "Brobdingnagian statue" loomed over the park") or abstract concepts (e.g., "The project involved "Brobdingnagian efforts"").

What are some synonyms for "Brobdingnagian"?

Synonyms for "Brobdingnagian" include "gigantic", "enormous", "immense", and "colossal". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "Brobdingnagian" in formal writing?

While "Brobdingnagian" is grammatically correct, its use is more common in creative or descriptive writing. In formal contexts, consider using more neutral synonyms like "substantial" or "extensive" depending on context.