monumental

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "monumental" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something of great importance, significance, or size, often in a historical or cultural context. Example: "The discovery of the ancient ruins was a monumental event in the field of archaeology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Arts

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It will take a monumental effort to defend this total.

The Guardian - Sport

With government coffers almost at nil and Athens facing a monumental €770m (£560m) loan instalment to the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday, it is the last act in a crisis with potentially cataclysmic effect.

The Guardian

But Bafta voters have a chance to right this monumental wrong, by voting it in the outstanding British film category.

The Guardian - Film

It looks like a discarded husk from which the monumental shaft has sprouted, a tiny scrap of history at the bottom of the 23-storey monster.

The Guardian - Arts

Labour's monumental strategic error, the ball and chain that has dragged the party down over this entire parliament, is the consistent failure to rebut the lie that overspending caused Britain's economic disaster.

The Guardian - Opinion

It also reneged on demands for a write down of its monumental debt – at over 175% of GDP one of the largest in the world – and conceded that it would not take any unilateral measures that would wreak havoc on its fiscal stability.

The Guardian

Archaeologist Jack Carlson, writing in Foreign Policy magazine, argues that the wholesale copying of architectural culture may have its roots in something much bigger than shameless commercial borrowing: "The ancient parallels for these copycat projects ­suggest that they are not mere follies, but monumental assertions of China's global primacy".

The Guardian - Arts

Each photograph has been blown up to over 1.5m across, allowing viewers to experience these powerful and monumental images on a scale at which they have never been seen before.

The Guardian

All three are expected to be put to international tender as part of an asset-stripping drive aimed at trimming the twice-bailout country's monumental debt load.

The Guardian

It's been a monumental effort by all the players, the management team, everyone".

The Guardian - Sport

Lanning, batting beautifully, guides a couple more away through backward point then, from the final ball of the over, a monumental slog-sweep over midwicket gives her six more.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "monumental" to describe something that is not only large but also historically or culturally significant. Consider its impact and lasting impression.

Common error

Avoid using "monumental" for trivial or commonplace situations. Reserve it for truly grand, significant, or impactful events and efforts.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "monumental" is as an adjective modifying nouns, as validated by Ludwig AI. It typically describes something of great size, importance, or impact, fitting to be a monument or remembered for its significance. As Ludwig exemplifies, it can describe both physical objects and abstract efforts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Arts

12%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "monumental" is a versatile adjective used to describe something exceptionally large, significant, or impactful. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in News & Media and Arts contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to reserve "monumental" for situations that truly warrant such a strong descriptor, avoiding overuse in everyday contexts. Alternatives include "colossal", "massive", and "significant" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

colossal

Focuses more on sheer size and impressiveness.

massive

Emphasizes the physical size or extent.

immense

Highlights the great size or degree of something.

substantial

Indicates a significant amount or degree.

significant

Emphasizes the importance or consequence of something.

remarkable

Highlights the unusual or noteworthy nature.

extraordinary

Emphasizes being beyond what is ordinary or usual.

profound

Indicates depth and significance of effect or meaning.

far-reaching

Emphasizes the broad and significant impact or consequences.

historic

Implies importance due to its place in history.

FAQs

How can I use "monumental" in a sentence?

Use "monumental" to describe something large, grand, and significant, such as "The construction of the Great Wall was a "monumental undertaking"".

What are some synonyms for "monumental"?

Alternatives include "colossal", "massive", or "significant", depending on the aspect you want to emphasize.

Is it appropriate to use "monumental" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "monumental" is generally better suited for more formal or neutral contexts due to its strong connotation of importance and scale. Consider using simpler words for everyday situations.

What is the difference between "monumental" and "important"?

"Monumental" implies something of great size, impact, and often historical significance, whereas "important" simply means having significance or value. Something can be important without being "monumental".