monster
gb/mˈɑnstɚ/ us/mˈɑnstɚ/
A2
English
~ 4100
szörny, szörnyeteg, behemót, óriási, hatalmas
NOUN
A2
1
szörny
A2
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] monster
The hero fought a terrifying monster in the cave.
A hős a barlangban egy félelmetes szörnnyel küzdött.
Children love stories about friendly monsters.
A gyerekek szeretik a barátságos szörnyekről szóló történeteket.
The film features a giant sea monster attacking ships.
Learner examples
The boy saw a monster in his dream.
A fiú álmában egy szörnyet látott.
A monster lives in the dark forest in the story.
A történetben egy szörny él a sötét erdőben.
The movie has a big green monster.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'monster' with 'animal'; 'monster' usually refers to something imaginary or exaggerated in size and fear.
Meaning
Frightening or large imaginary creature
Collocations
giant monster
|sea monster
|movie monster
|mythical monster
Synonyms
creature (More general; not necessarily frightening or imaginary.)
|
beast (Often implies a large, wild, and dangerous animal, real or mythical.)
Antonyms
human (A real person, as opposed to an imaginary creature.)
Themes
mythology
|fantasy
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A big, scary, and strange creature from stories or imagination.
An imaginary or mythical creature that is large, ugly, and often frightening.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
2
szörnyeteg
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a monster
Only a monster could commit such a terrible crime.
Csak egy szörnyeteg képes ilyen rettenetes bűncselekményt elkövetni.
She called him a monster for abandoning his family.
Szörnyetegnek nevezte, amiért elhagyta a családját.
History remembers the dictator as a monster.
Learner examples
He is a monster because he hurt many people.
Ő egy szörnyeteg, mert sok embernek ártott.
Only a monster would do that.
Csak egy szörnyeteg tenne ilyet.
They said the king was a monster.
Common mistake:
Learners may take the term literally; here it means a bad person, not a creature.
Meaning
Cruel or evil person
Collocations
act like a monster
|be called a monster
Synonyms
villain (Often used for fictional characters; implies opposition to a hero.)
|
brute (Emphasizes physical cruelty or violence.)
Antonyms
saint (Someone exceptionally good and kind, opposite of cruel.)
Themes
emotions
|crime
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very bad person who hurts others without care.
A person who behaves in a cruel, inhumane, or evil way.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a monster [object]
They built a monster skyscraper in the city center.
Egy óriási felhőkarcolót építettek a városközpontban.
He ordered a monster burger for lunch.
Ebédre egy óriási hamburgert rendelt.
The storm brought monster waves to the coast.
Learner examples
He bought a monster car.
Egy óriási autót vett.
That is a monster cake on the table.
Az asztalon egy óriási torta van.
We saw a monster wave at the beach.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the literal creature meaning; here it refers to size only.
Meaning
Something extremely large
Collocations
monster truck
|monster wave
|monster bill
Synonyms
giant (Neutral term for something very large.)
|
colossus (Very large and impressive, often used figuratively.)
Antonyms
miniature (Very small version of something.)
Themes
size
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A thing that is very, very big.
Something that is extremely large in size, amount, or power.
Grammar
Dictionary form
monster
IPA
GB/mˈɑnstɚ/
US/mˈɑnstɚ/
Syllables & stress
mon - ster (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mon)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: monster
- Plural: monster, monsters
Word family
Forms
monsters
noun
Core family
monstrous
adjective B1
Related words
monstrously
adverb
Advanced or less common
monstrosity
noun
Expressions
create a monster
1/kɹiˈeɪt ə mˈɑnstɚ/
idiom
Cause something harmful or uncontrollable
To make something that later becomes dangerous or too big to control.
Examples
- By giving him too much power, they created a monster.
- The new policy created a monster of bureaucracy.
monster hit
1/mˈɑnstɚ hˈɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
Extremely successful entertainment product
A movie, song, or book that is very popular and makes a lot of money.
Examples
- Their new album was a monster hit worldwide.
- The movie became a monster hit after its release.
monster mash
1/mˈɑnstɚ mˈæʃ/
fixed phrase
informal
Halloween song and dance with monsters
'Monster Mash' is the name of a funny Halloween song and dance about monsters.
Examples
- They played 'Monster Mash' at the Halloween party.
- We danced to 'Monster Mash' all night.
monster truck
1/mˈɑnstɚ tɹˈʌk/
fixed phrase
Very large pickup with oversized wheels
A very big truck with huge wheels, used in shows and competitions.
Examples
- We went to see the monster trucks at the stadium.
- He drives a bright red monster truck.