enormity, enormous, enormousness

Enormity describes events of monstrous wickedness or immoderate size, especially with reference to a crime or disaster.

• It was not until the next day that the enormity of the crime became apparent.

When only size is being discussed, enormousness is a better choice.

• Bertrand was impressed by the enormousness of the hydroelectric dam project.

There are no such restrictions on the adjective enormous.

• As everyone expected, the film Titanic was an enormous success.

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