enormity Hear it!

enormity Definition

enor·mity (ē nôrmə tē, i-)

noun pl. -·ties

  1. great wickedness the enormity of a crime
  2. a monstrous or outrageous act; very wicked crime
  3. enormous size or extent; vastness: in modern use, considered a loose usage by some

Etymology: Fr enormité < L enormitas < enormis, irregular, immoderate, immense < e-, out + norma, rule: see norm

enormity Synonyms

enormity

n.

  1. Vice

    atrocity, outrage, depravity, wickedness; see atrocity 2, crime 1, evil 1.

  2. Magnitude

    immensity, enormousness, vastness; see size 2.

enormity Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • tragedy: The enormity of the tragedy did not come all at once.
  • task: I became daunted at the enormity of the task I had set myself.
  • sin: This speaks of the enormity of the sin of man, that he drowned the lot, a whole generation.
  • challenge: First step is to grasp the enormity of the challenge.
  • situation: During November we asked for prayer support due to the enormity of the volatile situation we were moving into.
  • crime: Vatican bank Swiss bankers have been forced to open their books to expose the enormity of the crime.

Adjective modifier

  • sheer: Doctors ' resistance was broken down by the sheer enormity of the calamity.
  • full: I came to you that morning in order to understand the full enormity of my offense.
  • such: That's what I think Sher was doing: the only way to face such enormity is to drop the pretense and just be.
  • other: Cyril of Jerusalem renews the wicked accusation of child-murder, and adds other enormities unspeakable in the presence of women.
  • true: Above, a sloping ledge is gained and looking up the true enormity of Titan is revealed.
  • constitutional: If phrased as a constitutional enormity denying the rights of freeborn English then the answer is also implied in the question.

Converse of object

  • comprehend: I could not try to comprehend the enormity of what I had witnessed.
  • realize: I don't think people have realized the enormity of it.
  • realize: Abruptly Graham realized the enormity of his blunder in coming to the Council House.
  • grasp: First step is to grasp the enormity of the challenge.
  • appreciate: Please do not regard this request as an obligation, I fully appreciate the enormity of a task such as this.
  • understand: To see Jesus for who He is, is to better understand the enormity of the crime of the Cross.

Converse of subject

  • overwhelm: Help us not to lose hope when overwhelmed by the enormity of poverty, hunger and oppression in your world.
  • strike: I suspect that you like me are struck by the enormity of the sacrifice.
enormity Quotes

The enormityofthetask†[was] just a bit lessformidable than that described in the first chapter of Genesis.

—Acheson, Dean Gooderham

Browse dictionary entries near enormity

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  10. enmity
  1. enormous
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