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REFERENCE

monster

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈmɑnstɝ// UK //mˈɒnstɐ// mon·ster
  1. 1 imaginary creature (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a scary, imaginary creature that is often large and dangerous.

    a mythical or fictional creature, typically of frightening appearance and malevolent nature.

    Example

    The children believed a monster lived under their bed at night.

    Example

    Ancient maps often featured illustrations of sea monsters in unexplored waters to warn sailors of perceived dangers.
  2. 2 cruel person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person who is extremely cruel, wicked, or heartless.

    a person of unnatural cruelty or wickedness whose actions evoke horror.

    Example

    The dictator was a monster who treated his own people with terrible cruelty.

    Example

    The prosecutor described the defendant as a cold-blooded monster who showed no remorse for his crimes during the trial.
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  1. 3 gaming enemy (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

    an enemy character that players fight in a video game.

    a non-player character (NPC) designed as a hostile opponent for players in role-playing or action games.

    Example

    You need to defeat the forest monster to get the magic key.

    Example

    The game designer increased the monster's health points to ensure the final encounter remained challenging for high-level players.
  2. 4 very large (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    unusually large or powerful.

    exceptionally large in size, power, or scale. Often used as an attributive adjective.

    Example

    The band had a monster hit that stayed at number one for months.

    Example

    The company faced a monster deficit after the failed merger, forcing them to sell off several profitable subsidiaries.
  3. 5 to criticize or harass (v.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    to criticize someone very strongly or to follow them around in an annoying way.

    to criticize, reprimand, or harass someone persistently. Often used in British or Australian contexts.

    Example

    The newspapers started to monster the politician after the scandal broke.

    Example

    The coach was known to monster his players after a loss, pointing out every minor mistake they made on the field.
Origin

From Middle English monstre, from Old French monstre, mostre, moustre, from Latin mōnstrum.

Word family

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