colossal

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "colossal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very big in size or scope. For example: The Great Wall of China is an example of a colossal engineering feat.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After the Eiger and the glaciers of Grindelwald – colossal icy tongues that licked the village in the 1860s, but have retreated back into the mountains today – she returned to Interlaken to board the steamer across Lake Brienz to Giessbach Falls.

The Guardian - Travel

At a cost of £50bn (at the latest count) HS2 shows every sign of being a colossal white elephant.

The Guardian - Business

The partnership so far has spun off colossal technological and computing rewards, but that is not the point.

The Guardian - Opinion

The UUP's defiance on the question of support for the transfer of these powers is portrayed by Ian Paisley as nothing less than a "colossal mistake".

The Guardian

Mark Rutte, the centre-right Dutch prime minister, threw in the towel on Monday, submitting his resignation to Queen Beatrix after seven weeks of fruitless haggling over colossal spending cuts, which are required to comply with new European rules he has done much to design.

The Guardian

After Kadesh, Moses returns to Egypt, where Jewish slaves are working away on some monuments, colossal statues and a pyramid.

The Guardian - Film

As he described it, 'Thanks to poison and the gun they are rapidly following the fate of the Tasmanian nation which was completely destroyed in a period of about 40 years, constituting the most colossal crime our earth has known'".

The Guardian

This entire exhibition is based on a colossal and obvious distortion of the truth.

The Guardian - Arts

There are many copies of his colossal The Fall of the Damned, which the catalogue calls "without doubt one of the most impressive paintings" in Munich's venerable art museum the Alte Pinakothek – but no Fall of the Damned.

The Guardian - Arts

Random Access Memories is a colossal piece of work, but not in an overbearing "tremble at our genius, puny earthlings" way.

The Guardian - Music

In fact, the full costs to the country of the war on the miners - including those of the strike, closures, redundancy, and economic and welfare costs - have been colossal, almost £30bn.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "colossal" to describe something exceptionally large in size, extent, or degree, often inspiring awe or disbelief. For example, "The project required a colossal amount of funding".

Common error

Avoid using "colossal" in overly casual or informal situations where a simpler word like "big" or "large" would suffice. The word's inherent sense of grandeur may sound unnatural in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The word "colossal" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is extremely large or of great importance. Ludwig AI's examples show it describing everything from mistakes to statues, reflecting its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "colossal" is a powerful way to describe something exceptionally large or significant. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently employed across varied contexts, from news reports to formal documents. While its core meaning centers on immense size or scale, it often carries an implication of awe or impressiveness. Use "colossal" to elevate your language when you want to emphasize the extraordinary nature of something, but be mindful of avoiding overuse in overly informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prodigious

Suggests something impressive or remarkable in size or degree.

stupendous

Highlights the amazing or astonishing quality of something.

immense

Similar in meaning, but potentially lacking the implication of impressiveness or importance that "colossal" can convey.

monumental

Implies lasting significance or historical importance, related to size or impact.

enormous

Indicates great size, but may not necessarily imply grandeur or significance.

gigantic

Emphasizes size, possibly to an exaggerated degree.

massive

Indicates great size or scale, often suggesting solidity or weight.

extremely large

Focuses on the size aspect, lacking the implication of impressiveness.

vast

Implies extensive size or scope, often used for areas or quantities.

huge

A general term for large size, lacking the nuance of "colossal".

FAQs

How can I use "colossal" in a sentence?

You can use "colossal" to describe something that is extremely large or significant. For example, "The undertaking was a colossal waste of time."

What words can I use instead of "colossal"?

You can use alternatives like "immense", "enormous", or "gigantic" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "colossal" is suitable for formal writing when you want to emphasize the exceptional size or importance of something. However, ensure that its usage aligns with the tone and style of your writing.

What is the difference between "colossal" and "huge"?

"Colossal" implies something of greater magnitude and impressiveness than "huge". While "huge" simply denotes something very large, "colossal" suggests something awe-inspiring in its size or scope. In general, "huge" is a more general adjective and "colossal" indicates a greater size.