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Synonyms

atrocious

American  
[uh-troh-shuhs] / əˈtroʊ ʃəs /

adjective

  1. extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, or brutal.

    an atrocious crime.
    Synonyms:
    devilish, diabolic, monstrous, heinous, felonious

  2. shockingly bad or tasteless; dreadful; abominable.

    an atrocious painting; atrocious manners.
    Synonyms:
    detestable, execrable
atrocious British  
/ əˈtrəʊʃəs /

adjective

  1. extremely cruel or wicked; ruthless

    atrocious deeds

  2. horrifying or shocking

    an atrocious road accident

  3. informal very bad; detestable

    atrocious writing
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • atrociously adverb
  • atrociousness noun

Etymology

Origin of atrocious

First recorded in 1660–70; atroci(ty) + -ous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mark Joseph Stern: It sounds antiseptic, but it’s absolutely atrocious.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2026

The search for a ninth person believed killed in a huge avalanche in the US state of California will stretch into the weekend, officials said Thursday, as atrocious weather hampered operations.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Equally atrocious was the Bruins’ defense, players leaving the perimeter open on drive-and-dishes that led to a flurry of three-pointers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

Whether Doyle has truly accepted responsibility for his atrocious decisions on 26 May is in dispute.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

She also helped him with his grammar and his atrocious spelling.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.