enormity
noun
Susan SontagRichard FreedmanG. A. Craig 
Enormity vs. Enormousness: Usage Guide
The original meanings that enormity carried related to great wickedness, and some assert that enormity should today only be used with such meanings, and that enormousness is the proper word to use to mean "large size." Despite these claims, enormity frequently refers to large size, either literal or figurative, though it usually suggests something so large as to seem overwhelming.
Enormity can also refer to a shocking, evil, or immoral act
and it can also suggest both great size and deviation from morality.
New Republic
Enormity can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened or of its consequences.
It's worth noting that enormousness formerly shared the disagreeable meanings that enormity still carries, but it now means merely "large size."
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").
Examples of enormity in a Sentence
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 16 Mar. 2026
Despite the enormity of Giddey’s individual accolades, the Bulls are still searching for an offensive identity.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Assadollahzadeh lay awake in his bed, wrestling with the enormity of the decision he was now compelled to make.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Still, America knows little of Glass’ operatic enormity.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enormity
Cite this Entry
“Enormity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enormity. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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enormity
noun
