atrocious

[ uh-troh-shuhs ]

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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• aˈtrociousness, noun
• aˈtrociously, adverb

Other Words From

• a·trocious·ly adverb
• a·trocious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of atrocious¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of atrocious¹

C17: from Latin ātrōx dreadful, from āter black

Example Sentences

That attitude will keep them safer and happier, no matter what atrocious political choices American men may make.

From Salon

Another overwhelmingly dominant win for a Scotsman in atrocious conditions on perhaps the ultimate F1 challenge, the 14.2-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit.

From BBC

Ms Nkweta-Salam said the "atrocious crimes" were on a scale similar to those seen in Sudan's Darfur region last year, when the RSF was accused of "ethnic cleansing" communities seen to be opposed to it.

From BBC

"Families that are in north Gaza, especially the ones that are in Jabalia camp surrounded by Israeli forces, are trying to survive in what can only be described as atrocious conditions under a very heavy bombardment."

From BBC

Suddenly, the Dodgers’ rotation doesn’t look combustible — or, “atrocious,” as I wrote in a column last week.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appalling
• awful
• dreadful
• horrible
• horrid
• horrifying
• rotten
• terrible