# monster

/ˈmɑnstɝ/ (US) · /mˈɒnstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/monster
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. imaginary creature

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The children believed a monster lived under their bed at night.
- Ancient maps often featured illustrations of sea monsters in unexplored waters to warn sailors of perceived dangers.

### 2. cruel person

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The dictator was a monster who treated his own people with terrible cruelty.
- The prosecutor described the defendant as a cold-blooded monster who showed no remorse for his crimes during the trial.

### 3. gaming enemy

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

an enemy character that players fight in a video game.

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

- You need to defeat the forest monster to get the magic key.
- The game designer increased the monster's health points to ensure the final encounter remained challenging for high-level players.

### 4. very large

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

unusually large or powerful.

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

- The band had a monster hit that stayed at number one for months.
- The company faced a monster deficit after the failed merger, forcing them to sell off several profitable subsidiaries.

### 5. to criticize or harass

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

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

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

- The newspapers started to monster the politician after the scandal broke.
- The coach was known to monster his players after a loss, pointing out every minor mistake they made on the field.

## Examples

- The child was afraid of the monster under the bed.
- The film features a giant sea monster that attacks ships in the middle of the ocean.
- While the novel begins as a simple horror story, it eventually explores the idea that the true monster is not the creature, but the scientist who created it.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.