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monstrousness

monstrousness

7.8
The quality of being very ugly or cruel in a way that shocks people
  • noun
  • /ˈmɒnstrəsnəs/
translation icon : monstruosidad
  • His devil-like malevolence and monstrousness contrast (as does Yngvildr's vengefulness) with the community's desire for peace (Anderson xi).

Examples

  • His monstrousness brings to mind a moral picture of the man who succumbs to lust, though he seems to represent mainly the impulse to have feuds, considering his sociopathic behavior.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The documentary exposed the monstrousness of the cruel practices in the factory.

  • That was the monstrousness I was trying to understand.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • What I allude to is the unbroken and agonizing ugliness, the sheer revolting monstrousness, of every house in sight.

    Academic text (2006)
  • This designation of the others as representing uncontrolled human nature's monstrousness or depravity establishes a hierarchical difference and gives Pernelle a place in the upper reaches of the hierarchy.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The artist portrayed the monstrousness of war in her striking paintings.

  • Many were shocked by the monstrousness of the dictator's actions during the uprising.

Synonyms

horror
vsmonstrousness
441 2.1

A very strong feeling of fear, shock, or disgust

is a quality itself that combines ugliness, shock, and cruelty
atrocity
vsmonstrousness
151 8.1

A very cruel or violent act that shocks people, often against innocent people

is a general quality rather than a single cruel act
monstrosity
vsmonstrousness
23 8.2

A very ugly thing that looks frightening, often a building

is the quality of being ugly, cruel, and shocking rather than the thing
ugliness
vsmonstrousness
20 4.6

A quality of being morally bad or cruel

is about extreme frightening appearance and cruel shocking behaviour
enormity
vsmonstrousness
  • Formal
9 8.9

Great evil that shocks people

puts extra weight on appearance and ugly frightening features
awfulness
vsmonstrousness
7 6.0

A very unpleasant quality that makes people feel bad

is more specific about ugly, cruel, and shocking qualities
outrageousness
vsmonstrousness
3 7.2

A quality of being shocking or extreme

is more about ugliness, cruelty, and moral shock rather than oddity
grimness
vsmonstrousness
2 6.7

A harsh, unpleasant quality that makes people feel afraid or worried

leans more toward ugly appearance and cruel shocking aspects
vileness
vsmonstrousness
2 8.0

Very bad and morally wrong behavior

focuses more on ugly, frightening appearance and cruel action
hideousness
vsmonstrousness
2 6.3

Extreme ugliness that makes people feel shocked or disgusted

also covers moral cruelty and shocking violent behaviour
grotesquery
vsmonstrousness
2 9.9

A strange, often ugly scene that looks distorted

is stronger in expressing cruelty and moral shock alongside ugliness
terribleness
vsmonstrousness
1 6.6

A state when something is very bad and frightening

focuses more on shocking ugliness and cruel severity
heinousness
vsmonstrousness
  • Formal
1 9.5

The quality of being very evil and cruel that shocks people

focuses more on extreme ugliness and shocking cruelty
grotesquerie
vsmonstrousness
1 9.9

A strange and ugly quality in people and things that shocks and interests

is the overall quality including ugliness and frightening cruelty
gruesomeness
vsmonstrousness
  • NSFW
1 7.0

A very shocking and frightening scene or detail that makes you feel sick

adds emphasis on extreme ugliness and intentional cruelty
horribleness
vsmonstrousness
1 5.9

A very unpleasant, shocking state that causes fear or disgust

leans more toward physical ugliness and visual repulsion
disgustingness
vsmonstrousness
1 6.5

How gross or unpleasant something is

also stresses ugliness and cruelty beyond mere sensory disgust
fiendishness
vsmonstrousness
1 8.4

Very cruel and evil actions that harm people

is broader, covering also ugly and shocking appearance
ferociousness
vsmonstrousness
1 7.0

Very violent and cruel actions that frighten people

leans more toward ugliness and shocking horror than raw violence
egregiousness
vsmonstrousness
  • Formal
1 9.8

A quality of being very bad and shocking

adds sense of strong ugliness or cruel physical form
grotesqueness
vsmonstrousness
1 8.1

A state when something looks ugly and strange in a way that shocks

is more about shocking ugliness combined with cruelty and horror
ghastliness
vsmonstrousness
1 8.5

A very shocking and horrible sight that scares people

includes moral cruelty and plain extreme ugliness beyond fear
repulsiveness
vsmonstrousness
1 7.0

A strong feeling of disgust that makes you want to move away

extends beyond disgust to include cruelty and shocking ugliness
loathsomeness
vsmonstrousness
1 9.1

A strong feeling that something is very unpleasant or disgusting

adds sense of visible ugliness and terrifying cruelty rather than only hate
beastliness
vsmonstrousness
1 8.7

Cruel or very mean behavior towards other people

is broader, also describing ugly frightening appearance not only cruelty
atrociousness
vsmonstrousness
8.8

Very cruel actions that shock people

adds an extreme ugly or frightening appearance aspect
barbarousness
vsmonstrousness
9.5

A very cruel way of behaving that shows no kindness

can include strong visual ugliness as well as cruelty
nightmarishness
vsmonstrousness
9.1

A quality that makes situations feel very frightening and unpleasant

is a general attribute of extreme ugliness, cruelty, and shock
horridness
vsmonstrousness
7.7

A very unpleasant quality that shocks people

adds aspect of ugly appearance and deliberate cruelty
dreadfulness
vsmonstrousness
7.7

A very strong feeling of fear when something is shocking or awful

is broader, covering ugly looks and cruel actions too
odiousness
vsmonstrousness
  • Formal
9.0

A quality of being very unpleasant and causing strong dislike

places stronger emphasis on ugly looks and shocking cruelty

Antonyms

847 1.0

A combination of qualities like shape and color that pleases the eye

297 1.0

Friendly and generous actions that help or comfort other people

How Shocking

monstrousness
7.8
horror
441 2.1
shock
567 2.3
oddness
1 5.8

Surface Forms

monstrousness singular

Morphology

monstrousness = monstrous (transparent) = monster + ous + ness

The noun is formed by adding the productive suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'monstrous', creating a straightforward abstract noun.

Etymology

Monstrousness comes from the word monster, a name for something that frightens or shocks people, and the endings -ous ('full of') and -ness ('state of being') turn it into a noun. That is why monstrousness describes the quality of being very ugly, cruel, or shocking.