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

Other Word Forms

• atrociously adverb
• atrociousness 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

"His foursome play is just atrocious and there's really no explanation because you see the guy winning tournament after tournament after tournament," American writer Alex Miceli told BBC Radio 5 Live.

From BBC

Though she's lived there most of her life, her Malayalam is atrocious.

From BBC

"The last time he played here, the weather was atrocious," she said.

From BBC

We have players who have no passion for our club and our manager is as bad as Paul le Guen - and he was atrocious.

From BBC

Truly atrocious movies are preferable to those that are simply forgettable, according to Timon Singh, who set up the Bristol Bad Film Club a decade ago.

From BBC

Related Words

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