enormity
enormity Lexical Profile
enormity Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as having a profound or overwhelming impact.
"The relief workers were momentarily stunned by the sheer enormity of the reconstruction effort ahead of them."
The quality of being outrageous, profoundly immoral, or monstrously wicked.
"The historical tribunal documented the full enormity of the regime's abuses against civilians."
A profoundly wicked or atrocious act; a grave crime or offense.
"The forged treaties were just one of the many enormities committed during the colonial administration."
Word Nuance & Usage
Traditionally, 'enormity' refers to extreme moral wickedness or a heinous crime, whereas 'enormousness' refers purely to vast physical size. Although 'enormity' is now widely used to describe the great scale or gravity of a complex situation, careful writers still prefer 'enormousness' or 'immensity' for neutral physical size.
• Rhymes for enormity
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French 'énormité', from Latin 'enormitas' (irregularity, vastness), derived from 'e-' (out of) and 'norma' (rule or carpenter's square).