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

No firing a bow this time, instead showing remarkable courage to rip off his shirt in such atrocious weather.

From BBC

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

From Salon

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

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

From Los Angeles Times

The point again feels redundant at this stage, but it’s nonetheless worth repeating because it’s the reason why the Dodgers are on the verge of another divisional-round elimination: Their starting pitching is atrocious.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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