1
the enormity of sth
此处表示“巨大、广大”，常用于强调抽象事物或任务在规模、程度上的惊人之处。部分人认为这个词专指“极恶”，表示“巨大”时也可用 enormousness。
The enormity of the project was overwhelming.
这个项目规模之大令人不堪重负。
巨大；广大
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
巨大；广大
vastness of size or extent
The enormity of the project was overwhelming.
这个项目规模之大令人不堪重负。
偏离道德常态；极度邪恶、恶毒或残忍。
Deviation from moral normality; extreme wickedness, nefariousness, or cruelty.
违反法律或道德的行为；邪恶或罪恶的行为。
A breach of law or morality; a transgression, an act of evil or wickedness.
The enormity of the Sahara Desert can only be appreciated from the air.
撒哈拉沙漠的巨大只有从空中才能体会到。
Standing at the rim of the canyon, she felt the enormity of the landscape around her.
站在峡谷边缘，她感受到了周围景色的辽阔。
It is difficult to imagine the enormity of the ocean when you are standing on the shore.
当你站在海边时，很难想象海洋的浩瀚。
此处表示“巨大、广大”，常用于强调抽象事物或任务在规模、程度上的惊人之处。部分人认为这个词专指“极恶”，表示“巨大”时也可用 enormousness。
The enormity of the project was overwhelming.
这个项目规模之大令人不堪重负。
这种结构强调行为的严重邪恶程度，而非单纯的大小。注意 sb 可用具体名词替换，例如 the enormity of what the soldiers did。
The enormity of what she did haunted her for years.
她所做之事的极端恶劣让她多年不得安宁。
enormity 作可数名词时指具体的“暴行、恶行”，常与 commit 搭配。
The general committed an enormity that shocked the world.
那位将军犯下了震惊世界的暴行。
Not this
We saw an enormity building in the city center.
Use this
We saw an enormous building in the city center.
enormity 是名词，意为“巨大”或“极恶”，不能放在名词前作定语；修饰名词 building 要用形容词 enormous（巨大的）。
Not this
The film shows the enormitys of the war.
Use this
The film shows the enormities of the war.
enormity 以辅音字母 y 结尾，变复数时把 y 改为 i 再加 -es；表示“暴行、恶行”这类可数的行为时用复数 enormities。
Not this
He committed enormity against innocent people.
Use this
He committed an enormity against innocent people.
当 enormity 表示“一件极恶的行为/暴行”时是可数名词，前面需要限定词；所以要说 commit an enormity，而不能裸用单数名词。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
任务的艰巨性
They were overwhelmed by the enormity of the task.
他们被这项任务的艰巨性压垮了。
罪行的穷凶极恶
The jury was shocked by the enormity of the crime.
陪审团对这一罪行的穷凶极恶感到震惊。
犯下滔天罪行
The invaders committed enormities against the local people.
入侵者对抗当地人民犯下了滔天罪行。
Use enormity naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把 enormity 联想成 enormous（巨大的）+ ity，记住它是“巨大到吓人的恶行”：既指巨大，也指极恶。
语域：formal 常见场景：正式写作、严肃报道、道德或法律讨论 enormity 通常用于正式语体，多出现在书面文章或严肃报道中，日常口语较少使用。它既可指‘极恶/暴行’，也可指‘巨大’，但后者在传统用法中属争议用法，使用时应谨慎。
与 enormity 英音 /ɪˈnɔːmɪti/ 押韵的有 conformity /kənˈfɔːmɪti/、deformity /dɪˈfɔːmɪti/、uniformity /ˌjuːnɪˈfɔːmɪti/（都含 /fɔːmɪti/）。注意 enmity /ˈɛnməti/ 和 anonymity /ˌænəˈnɪməti/ 拼写相似但读音不同，不押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.