vast

adjective

ˈvast How to pronounce vast (audio)
Definition of vastnext
as in huge
unusually large a vast expanse of land just waiting to be settled

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vast distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of vast are colossal, enormous, gigantic, huge, immense, and mammoth. While all these words mean "exceedingly large," vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

When might colossal be a better fit than vast?

The words colossal and vast can be used in similar contexts, but colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

How do enormous and immense relate to one another, in the sense of vast?

Enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness.

an enormous expense
an immense shopping mall

Where would gigantic be a reasonable alternative to vast?

Although the words gigantic and vast have much in common, gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

When could huge be used to replace vast?

The synonyms huge and vast are sometimes interchangeable, but huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

When would mammoth be a good substitute for vast?

The meanings of mammoth and vast largely overlap; however, mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vast Health officials bracing for deep cuts within NIOSH include workers at the agency's Pittsburgh and Spokane offices, where some 200 staff — the vast majority of those working out of the locations — are expected to be impacted, according to a notice sent to their union. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025 That granted fans in attendance free Chick-fil-A and showcased the vast improvement Garcia has made in his swing this spring. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2025 Timbo gives Baby Timbo tracks from his vast archive of unreleased beats and song ideas, or newer creations, and turns it loose to reinvent them. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025 But the vast majority of residents, including children, receive the payout. —Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vast
  1. huge
  2. enormous
  3. gigantic
  4. tremendous
  5. massive
  6. giant
  7. immense
  8. colossal
Adjective
  • That’s realistically the only addition that would make a huge splash at the position.
    — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • More: Top Armed Services Republican and Democrat call for independent probe of Hegseth and Signal leak The retired lieutenant colonel said Hegseth appeared to have added real time updates from a secure Defense Department messaging system – a huge breach of security.
    — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of huge
Adjective
  • An underwater camera confirmed the enormous Māori octopus (Octopus maorum) was alive and actively moving.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The play still brought in an enormous $3.28 million, and played to a more than 100 percent capacity with an average ticket price of $298.83.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of enormous
Adjective
  • Goodbye millions of programmers, hello gigantic business savings.
    — Gil Press, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • But Stanford is a rare school where even assistant coaches leaving doesn’t usually have a gigantic impact on recruiting.
    — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of gigantic
Adjective
  • Frank is a business leader, with a tremendous track record of transforming large corporations.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • In fact, Holloway was regarded as a tremendous athlete on his draft day, and the worry surrounded his ability to score in the NHL.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of tremendous
Adjective
  • On 25th March 2025, Russian forces launched a massive drone assault on Dnipropetrovsk oblast, including Marhanets and Nikopol, marking one of the largest and most intense attacks of the war to date.
    — Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Masterminded by the Rockwell Group, that means a cocktail lounge draped in blue velvet with a marble bar under a massive lighted globe on the 48th floor.
    — Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of massive
Adjective
  • Why can’t Walter’s estranged first wife, Elaine (Carla Gugino), foster this giant, sad-eyed animal?
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Related article America’s automakers aren’t rushing to move production to US factories to avoid tariffs The North American car industry has operated for decades as if the continent is one giant country, thanks to free trade agreements signed by US presidents from Bill Clinton to Trump himself.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of giant
Adjective
  • Layer Health embodies this thesis by addressing the immense problem of clinical data abstraction and chart review, a historically manual, error-prone, and resource-intensive process.
    — Seth Joseph, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The decisions officialdom makes often have immense financial impacts.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of immense
Adjective
  • Yet, with any colossal success, there can always be backlash, with some criticizing the higher alcohol levels.
    — Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The storms moving and forming across the country arrived just days after a colossal system barreled across the U.S., killing at least 42 people.
    — Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of colossal

Browse Nearby Words

varying
vast
vastitude
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vast. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of vast for Spanish Speakers

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