English Reference
Noun

monstrosity

n. countable
C1 Advanced US /mɑnˈstɹɑsəti/ UK /mənstɹˈɒsɪti/ mon·stros·i·ty UK spelling monstrosities

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.


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.

Iran has been a terrorist monstrosity for half a century; it has killed thousands of Americans with shaped charges in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Toronto Sun· 23 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated