enormity

Academic Word List, sublist 10.

About 0.67 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun Deviation from what is normal or standard; irregularity, abnormality.
2. noun Deviation from moral normality; extreme wickedness, nefariousness, or cruelty. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

   Not until the war ended and journalists were able to enter Cambodia did the world really become aware of the enormity of Pol Pot’s oppression.

3. noun A breach of law or morality; a transgression, an act of evil or wickedness.
4. noun Great size; enormousness, hugeness, immenseness.

Similar words

outrageousness severity outrage arduousness arduous depth seriousness tremendous acuteness gravity

Often followed by

of and in that is to which as was

Word family

enormities enormous enormously