Gila monster

UK/ˈhiːlə ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/US/ˈhilə ˈmɑnstɚ/

noun

A venomous lizard, Heloderma suspectum, that lives in the deserts of the southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico.

Similar
Heloderma suspectum
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Meanings

nounGila monster (plural Gila monsters)

plural Gila monsters

  1. A venomous lizard, Heloderma suspectum, that lives in the deserts of the southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico.

    Ever see one a them Gila monsters take hold, mister? Grabs hold, an’ you chop him in two an’ his head hangs on.

    1939, John Steinbeck, chapter 13, in The Grapes of Wrath, page 132

Synonyms & antonyms

nounlarge orange and black lizard of southwestern United States; not dangerous unless molested

Similar
Heloderma suspectum
Broader
venomous lizard

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From the Gila River in Arizona and New Mexico, whose name may ultimately derive from a Yuma word meaning "running water which is salty".

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan monstre de Gila
  • monstre de GilaHeloderma suspectum
Chinese Mandarin 美國毒蜥 /美国毒蜥
  • 美國毒蜥 /美国毒蜥 (Měiguó dúxī)Heloderma suspectum
Dutch gilamonster, gilahagedis
  • gilamonsterHeloderma suspectum
  • gilahagedisHeloderma suspectum
Finnish gilalisko
  • gilaliskoHeloderma suspectum
French monstre de Gila
  • monstre de GilaHeloderma suspectum
German Gila-Krustenechse
  • Gila-KrustenechseHeloderma suspectum
Indonesian kadal hila
  • kadal hilaHeloderma suspectum
Italian mostro di Gila
  • mostro di GilaHeloderma suspectum
Korean 아메리카독도마뱀
  • 아메리카독도마뱀 (amerikadokdomabaem)Heloderma suspectum
Portuguese monstro-de-gila, monstro de Gila
  • monstro-de-gilaHeloderma suspectum
  • monstro de GilaHeloderma suspectum
Russian аризо́нский ядозу́б, жилатье́
  • аризо́нский ядозу́б (arizónskij jadozúb)Heloderma suspectum
  • жилатье́ (žilatʹjé)Heloderma suspectum
Spanish monstruo de Gila
  • monstruo de GilaHeloderma suspectum
Cite this entry
APA

Gila monster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gila%20monster

MLA

“Gila monster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gila%20monster. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Gila monster,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gila%20monster.

Source: Gila monster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.