Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person or thing of enormous size, strength, or power: "Goliath" refers to someone or something that is abnormally large, powerful, or dominant, often in a metaphorical sense.
   • A giant Philistine warrior: In the Old Testament of the Bible, "Goliath" is the name of a giant warrior from Gath who was famously defeated by the young David.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Metaphorical):
  • The small startup faced a Goliath in the tech industry. (The small startup competed against a huge, dominant company.)
  • She felt like a David taking on a Goliath when she challenged the policy. (She felt like an underdog confronting a powerful institution.)
• Noun (Biblical/Historical):
  • The story of David and Goliath is a classic tale of the underdog's victory. (The biblical narrative describes a young shepherd defeating a giant warrior.)

Advanced Usage

• "a David and Goliath battle/struggle/fight": A situation where a very small or weak opponent faces a much larger, stronger, or more powerful one.
  • The court case was a classic David and Goliath struggle between a single homeowner and a massive corporation.
• To be/stand like a Goliath: To be overwhelmingly large or powerful in a particular context.
  • The new factory stood like a Goliath over the small town.

Variants and Related Words

• Goliath crane (n): A very large type of crane used in construction and shipbuilding. (This is a compound noun where "Goliath" is used attributively to indicate great size.)
• Goliath beetle (n): A very large tropical beetle. (Another compound noun using "Goliath" to denote great size.)

Synonyms

• Colossus: A person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability.
• Titan: A person or thing of very great strength, intellect, or importance.
• Behemoth: Something enormous, especially a large and powerful organization.
• Giant: A person or thing of unusually great size, power, or importance.

Related Phrases

• To slay/defeat a Goliath: To overcome a seemingly insurmountable opponent or challenge.
  • The activist group aimed to slay the Goliath of corporate pollution.
• Goliath-like (adj): Resembling Goliath in size or power. (This is a derived adjective.)
  • The company's Goliath-like presence in the market discouraged competition.

Noun

1. someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful
2. (Old Testament) a giant Philistine warrior who was slain by David with a slingshot