Word
monstrosity
Phoneticsmon·stros·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/mɑnˈstɹɑsəti/
UK/mənstɹˈɒsɪti/
Countable noun
Definition
n. something that is very ugly, strange, or unpleasant to look at. It can also describe a building or object that is badly designed or built.
n. something extremely ugly, grotesque, or repulsive in appearance. Often refers to architectural or mechanical structures that are poorly conceived or executed.
Examples
“The new office building is a real monstrosity.”
“The architect's latest design was dismissed by critics as a hideous monstrosity that ruined the historic skyline.”
“While the cathedral's original design was elegant, the addition of the modern glass wing was widely regarded as a structural monstrosity that clashed with the surrounding heritage sites.”
Examples
simple
“The new office building is a real monstrosity.”
contextual
“The architect's latest design was dismissed by critics as a hideous monstrosity that ruined the historic skyline.”
complex
“While the cathedral's original design was elegant, the addition of the modern glass wing was widely regarded as a structural monstrosity that clashed with the surrounding heritage sites.”
Real-World Examples
“The magazine , external described the replacement construction as a "monstrosity", saying: "Much like everything else in Liverpool, it is a 412-bed student accommodation block and a 101-room Premier Inn hotel.” “Iran has been a terrorist monstrosity for half a century; it has killed thousands of Americans with shaped charges in Iraq and Afghanistan.” “But when Victorian society raged at Dorian’s monstrosity, Wilde countered that “vice and virtue are to the artist materials for an art” that can reveal humanity to itself.” “Keith Turpin, his son, said it was "an insult to have that monstrosity put there".” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/monstrosity