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Enormity: meaning, definitions and examples

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enormity

 

[ ɪˈnɔːmɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

noun

The extreme scale or seriousness of something, often referring to a negative event or action. It can also refer to a monstrous or outrageous act.

Synonyms

atrociousness, immensity, monstrosity, outrageousness.

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Word Description / Examples
enormity

Refers to the great scale or seriousness of something, often with a negative connotation, such as crime or disaster.

  • The enormity of the crime shocked the entire nation.
  • She couldn't grasp the enormity of the disaster.
immensity

Highlights the vast size or extent of something, without necessarily implying a negative aspect.

  • They were awestruck by the immensity of the Grand Canyon.
  • The immensity of the ocean is truly breathtaking.
monstrosity

Used for something extremely large and unsightly, often with a negative aesthetic judgment.

  • That new building is a complete monstrosity.
  • The monstrosity of the statue made it deeply unpopular.
outrageousness

Describes something that is shockingly unacceptable or offensive, usually eliciting strong reactions.

  • The outrageousness of his comments made everyone uncomfortable.
  • She couldn't believe the outrageousness of the proposal.
atrociousness

Describes extremely bad or brutal behavior or situations, usually with strong negative feelings.

  • The atrociousness of the attack was unbearable.
  • Everyone was appalled by the atrociousness of the conditions.

Examples of usage

  • The enormity of the crime shocked the nation.
  • The enormity of the disaster was beyond comprehension.
  • She was appalled by the enormity of his betrayal.
  • The enormity of the dictator's actions was horrifying.
  • The enormity of the task ahead seemed daunting.

Translations

Translations of the word "enormity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 enormidade

🇮🇳 विशालता

🇩🇪 Größe

🇮🇩 besarnya

🇺🇦 величезність

🇵🇱 ogrom

🇯🇵 巨大さ

🇫🇷 énormité

🇪🇸 enormidad

🇹🇷 muazzamlık

🇰🇷 거대함

🇸🇦 عِظَم

🇨🇿 ohromnost

🇸🇰 ohromnosť

🇨🇳 巨大

🇸🇮 ogromnost

🇮🇸 stórfeldleiki

🇰🇿 үлкендік

🇬🇪 უზარმაზრობა

🇦🇿 böyüklük

🇲🇽 enormidad

Etymology

The word 'enormity' originally meant great wickedness or an outrageous act, but over time, its meaning has shifted to also include the sense of extreme scale or seriousness. The word has Latin roots from 'enormis,' which means 'irregular' or 'monstrous.' It is important to note that some people still argue that 'enormity' should only be used in the negative sense, while others accept its broader usage.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,165, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.