noun
enormity
ih-NAW-mih-tee
noun
1
The great scale or seriousness of something, especially something shocking or overwhelming.
"It took days for the enormity of the disaster to sink in."
"She was struck by the enormity of the task ahead of her."
How to Use Enormity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow huge, serious, or overwhelming something is — often used for shocking or weighty situations.
Common mistake
Traditionally "enormity" implied moral outrage or wickedness, not just size — many careful writers still avoid using it as a plain synonym for "enormous size." Use "enormousness" or "immensity" if you just mean "very big."
Common pairings
the enormity of the situation
realize the enormity
enormity of the task
Word Forms
enormities plural
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It took days for the _____ of the disaster to sink in.
Etymology
From Latin enormitas, "irregularity," from enormis, "outside the norm".