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enormous

enormous

754 2.1
Very large in size, amount, or effect
  • adjective
  • /ɪˈnɔːrməs/
: enorme
  • The storm caused an enormous amount of damage to the coastal towns.
  • an enormous amount
  • potentially enormous
  • enormous costs

It may appear to be an enormous waste of money and time.

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Examples

  • The view of downtown Los Angeles from the enormous, ornate house is extraordinary.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • OK, they took enormous risks and tried anyway.

  • And I have an enormous number of gay friends.

  • And that gives you such an enormous life advantage.

  • That should be an enormous economic blow to China.

  • You have this enormous trust in science, trust in research.

  • But your thoughts also have an enormous impact on your health.

  • After two years of enormous sacrifice, we did our part.

  • Of course, artillery would make an enormous difference.

  • But it also saves the healthcare system an enormous amount of money.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

big
vsenormous
∞ 1.0

Larger than usual in size or amount

signifies much greater than usual size or degree
large
vsenormous
∞ 1.0

Bigger than average in size, number, or amount

expresses extreme largeness far beyond average size
great
vsenormous
∞ 1.0

Very large in size or number

focuses on being much greater in size, amount, or degree
huge
vsenormous
∞ 1.0

Very large in size, amount, or degree

expresses the same great size more formally and broadly
giant
vsenormous
975 1.0

Very large in size

is about great overall size, not only physical bulk
massive
vsenormous
944 2.9

Very large and impressive in scale

focuses on sheer large size rather than intensity or power
tremendous
vsenormous
671 3.0

Very large or impressive

expresses great size without the strongly positive impression
vast
vsenormous
650 2.1

Very large in size or amount

is similarly very large but used more for measurable largeness
overwhelming
vsenormous
414 4.4

Very strong in amount or feeling that is hard to deal with

focuses on sheer large size rather than overpowering intensity
gigantic
vsenormous
145 3.2

Very large, much bigger than normal

is equally very large but stated more generally
immense
vsenormous
132 3.7

Very large in size, amount, or degree

uses the same extreme size idea in general contexts
sizable
vsenormous
  • US
61 3.7

Quite large in size or amount

describes a much stronger, extreme size level rather than moderate
oversized
vsenormous
58 2.3

Larger than normal and often too big for its use

simply denotes very large size without suggesting unsuitability
colossal
vsenormous
56 4.7

So large in size or amount that it causes great surprise

is similar in size but without the awe emphasis
hefty
vsenormous
53 4.1

Being large in amount and often expensive

indicates a much greater than usual amount rather than just substantial
monstrous
vsenormous
36 4.5

Very large in size or amount, much bigger than normal

means very large but without the abnormal or negative sense
humongous
vsenormous
  • Informal
30 3.6

Very large in size, much bigger than normal

gives the same meaning but in more neutral language
astronomical
vsenormous
27 5.6

Very large in amount or size

means extremely large but remains within normal descriptive range
mammoth
vsenormous
22 3.9

Very large in size or amount

means very large but with more neutral tone
gargantuan
vsenormous
19 7.3

Very large, much bigger than usual

shares great size but is less vivid or dramatic
ginormous
vsenormous
  • Informal
13 3.3

Very large and much bigger than usual

is the standard term for the same very large idea
outsized
vsenormous
12 4.6

Much larger than is usual for that kind

refers to generally much larger size without the unusual focus
outsize
vsenormous
4 4.4

Much larger than usual for its kind

describes large size without implying atypicalness for its kind
inestimable
vsenormous
3 8.6

So great that you cannot measure its value

refers to very large amount but still estimable or measurable
hugemongous
vsenormous
  • Informal
8.6

Very large, often said in a playful way

keeps the extreme size idea without the humorous tone

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

So small it can fit in your hand

23 4.4

Very small in size or amount

How Big

immense
132 3.7
huge
∞ 1.0
enormous
754 2.1
large
∞ 1.0
big
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

enormous positive
enormouser comparative
enormousest superlative

Morphology

enormous = enorm + ous

The adjective-forming suffix '-ous' is visible, but the stem 'enorm' is not a standalone modern English word and the constituent meanings are not obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

Enormous comes from Latin parts e- ('out of') and norma ('rule' or 'measure'), the same root as normal. So something enormous is 'out of the usual measure' and is much bigger than normal.