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TOEFL BNC: 18454 COCA: 15686

enormity

noun

enor·​mi·​ty i-ˈnȯr-mə-tē How to pronounce enormity (audio)
plural enormities
1
: an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral act
the enormities of state power Susan Sontag
other enormities too juvenile to mention Richard Freedman
2
: the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous
especially : great wickedness
the enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich G. A. Craig
3
: the quality or state of being huge : immensity
the inconceivable enormity of the universe
4
: a quality of momentous importance or impact
the enormity of the decision
Enormity vs. Enormousness: Usage Guide

Enormity, some people insist, is improperly used to denote large size. They insist on enormousness for this meaning, and would limit enormity to the meaning "great wickedness." Those who urge such a limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which enormity is actually used. It regularly denotes a considerable departure from the expected or normal.

they awakened; they sat up; and then the enormity of their situation burst upon them. "How did the fire start?" John Steinbeck

When used to denote large size, either literal or figurative, it usually suggests something so large as to seem overwhelming

no intermediate zone of study. Either the enormity of the desert or the sight of a tiny flower Paul Theroux
the enormity of the task of teachers in slum schools J. B. Conant

and may even be used to suggest both great size and deviation from morality.

the enormity of existing stockpiles of atomic weapons — New Republic

It can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened

the sombre enormity of the Russian Revolution George Steiner

or of its consequences.

perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of the misfortune E. L. Doctorow

Did you know?

Although enormity has been used since the late 1700s to denote large size, this usage continues to be disparaged by various language commentators who argue that enormity should be reserved for senses related to "great wickedness." It is enormousness, they insist (a hefty and considerably less common word), that should be used in reference to great size, despite the fact that, like enormity, it too originally was used to denote wickedness or divergence from accepted moral standards. For better or worse, this proscription has been widely ignored by many English speakers, including professional writers. However one chooses to use them, enormity and enormous can both be traced back to the Latin enormis, from the prefix e- ("out of") and norma ("rule," "pattern," or "carpenter's square").

Synonyms

Example Sentences

We were shocked at the enormity of the crime. They didn't fully grasp the enormity of their decision.
Recent Examples on the Web Often, these efforts feel drowned out by the platform’s sheer enormity. Mark Bergen, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2022 Understanding the data and the enormity of dissatisfaction with work is an important step toward creating a better future of work. Tracy Brower, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Multiply this challenge by thousands of rare conditions, some of which may affect only a handful of people worldwide, and the enormity and complexity of the challenges become clear. Craig Martin, STAT, 23 July 2022 There is still time and opportunity, however, to protect and encourage future innovation in rare disease at the scale necessary to address the enormity of the challenge. Craig Martin, STAT, 23 July 2022 The question is whether this is enough to tackle the enormity of the city’s housing crisis. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 23 June 2022 When the hearing concluded, and analysts on the other networks absorbed the enormity of what was presented, the pro-Trump media narrative was already baked. Brian Stelter, CNN, 10 June 2022 Everybody will process the enormity of the death count differently based on their personal experiences and beliefs. Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022 In a 2003 Globe interview, Dr. Farmer discussed the enormity of the organization’s undertaking. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Feb. 2022 See More

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enormity was in the 15th century

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