Alien vs. Monster: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Alien is an outsider or foreigner; can also mean extraterrestrial. Monster is a frightening or evil creature, often mythical or fictional.
Key Differences
Alien term primarily refers to a foreigner or someone from another country, often highlighting the aspect of being an outsider or unfamiliar. In science fiction, it also denotes beings from other planets. Contrarily, 'Monster' typically refers to a mythical or fictional creature that is often large, scary, and evil. It's rooted in folklore and horror genres.
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Nov 18, 2023
In cultural contexts, 'Alien' can denote something unfamiliar or strange, evoking a sense of otherness or difference from the norm. Monsters are often used symbolically to represent fear, evil, or the unknown. They are prevalent in myths, legends, and horror stories.
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Nov 18, 2023
Alien word can also have a neutral or non-threatening connotation, simply indicating something foreign or from another place, like 'alien species'. In contrast, 'Monster' almost always carries a negative connotation, associated with terror, abnormality, and danger.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
In legal terms, 'Alien' is used to describe a non-citizen resident of a country, highlighting the legal aspect of foreignness. There's no legal use for 'Monster'; it remains firmly in the realm of fiction, folklore, and metaphor.
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Nov 18, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Alien and Monster Definitions
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Alien
Owing political allegiance to another country or government; foreign
Alien residents.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Belonging to, characteristic of, or constituting another and very different place, society, or person; strange.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
An imaginary or legendary creature, such as a centaur or Harpy, that combines parts from various animal or human forms.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed, as in nature
Emotions alien to her temperament.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
An unnaturalized foreign resident of a country. Also called noncitizen.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
A creature from outer space
Science fiction about an invasion of aliens.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
(Informal) Extremely large; monstrous
A monster hit at the box office.
Ate a monster steak.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
(Ecology) An organism, especially a plant or animal, that occurs in or is naturalized in a region to which it is not native.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
A bizarre or whimsical creature.
The children decided Grover was a cuddly monster.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
A person, animal, plant, or other thing which is from outside the family, group, organization, or territory under consideration.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
A cruel, heartless, or antisocial person, especially a criminal.
Get away from those children, you meatheaded monster!
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
(figuratively) A badly behaved child, a brat.
Sit still, you little monster!
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
(informal) Something unusually large.
Have you seen those powerlifters on TV? They're monsters.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Not belonging to the same country, land, or government, or to the citizens or subjects thereof; foreign.
Alien subjects, enemies, property, or shores
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
(informal) A prodigy; someone very talented in a specific domain.
That dude playing guitar is a monster.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Very unfamiliar, strange, or removed.
Principles alien to our religion
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
(gaming) A non-player character that player(s) fight against in role-playing games.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Pertaining to extraterrestrial life; typical of an extraterrestrial creature.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
(informal) Very large; worthy of a monster.
He has a monster appetite.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
(transitive) To make into a monster; to categorise as a monster; to demonise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Not belonging to the same country, land, or government, or to the citizens or subjects thereof; foreign; as, alien subjects, enemies, property, shores.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Wholly different in nature; foreign; adverse; inconsistent (with); incongruous; - followed by from or sometimes by to; as, principles alien from our religion.
An alien sound of melancholy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
A foreigner; one owing allegiance, or belonging, to another country; a foreign-born resident of a country in which he does not possess the privileges of a citizen. Hence, a stranger. See Alienage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
To play (a series of) non-player characters as directed, without having the responsibility of organising the game itself; generally not limited to playing literal monsters or hostile combatants.
Are you monstering that event?
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
One excluded from certain privileges; one alienated or estranged; as, aliens from God's mercies.
Aliens from the common wealth of Israel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
Something of unnatural size, shape, or quality; a prodigy; an enormity; a marvel.
A monster or marvel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
To alienate; to estrange; to transfer, as property or ownership.
The prince was totally aliened from all thoughts of . . . the marriage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
Specifically , an animal or plant departing greatly from the usual type, as by having too many limbs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
A person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
Any thing or person of unnatural or excessive ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty.
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Transfer property or ownership;
The will aliened the property to the heirs
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness
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Oct 19, 2023
Monster
An imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something;
An economic theory alien to the spirit of capitalism
The mysticism so foreign to the French mind and temper
Jealousy is foreign to her nature
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Oct 19, 2023
Alien
Being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world;
Alien customs
Exotic plants in a greenhouse
Exotic cuisine
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does "alien" mean?
"Alien" primarily refers to a being from another planet or something foreign or different in nature.
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Nov 18, 2023
Does "alien" have a negative connotation?
Sometimes, especially when referring to foreign individuals, it can have a negative or unwelcoming tone.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can "alien" describe non-extraterrestrial things?
Yes, it can also describe something unfamiliar or strange, not necessarily from outer space.
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Nov 18, 2023
How is "alien" used in legal terms?
In legal context, "alien" denotes a foreign-born person who is not a citizen of the country they are in.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is "alien" a scientific term?
In the context of extraterrestrial life, it's more of a popular term than a strictly scientific one.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is "monster" always negative?
Mostly, but in some contexts, like children's stories or films, it can have a more neutral or even positive connotation.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can "alien" imply illegal status?
In immigration context, it might, but the term itself does not specifically imply legality.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is "alien" used as a noun and an adjective?
Yes, it serves as both; as a noun (a foreign being), and as an adjective (alien culture).
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Are there synonyms for "alien" in the extraterrestrial sense?
Yes, like "extraterrestrial" or "space being."
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Nov 18, 2023
What is an example of "alien" in a sentence?
"The movie depicted an alien civilization advanced beyond our understanding."
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Nov 18, 2023
Can "monster" have a figurative meaning?
Absolutely, it can describe an inanimate object that is exceptionally large or powerful (e.g., "a monster truck").
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Nov 18, 2023
What's an example of "monster" in a sentence?
"The children were frightened by stories of a monster lurking in the woods."
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Nov 18, 2023
Does "monster" come from a specific language?
It originates from Latin, where "monstrum" meant an omen or a supernatural being.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can "monster" be playful or affectionate?
Yes, sometimes it's used affectionately, especially when referring to mischievous children or large pets.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can "monster" describe a person?
Yes, it can describe someone who is extremely cruel or wicked.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is "alien" ever used in a positive sense?
Yes, when referring to novel or exciting experiences or entities (e.g., "alien beauty").
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Are there synonyms for "monster"?
Yes, such as "beast," "creature," or "fiend."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
What does "monster" mean?
"Monster" refers to a mythical or legendary creature that is often large, frightening, and typically hostile.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Is "monster" used in any specific fields?
It's widely used in literature, mythology, and cinema to describe fantastical creatures.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is "monster" linked to horror genres?
Yes, it is often associated with horror stories and movies, symbolizing fear and the unknown.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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