atrocious

[ uh-troh-shuhs ]

/ əˈtroʊ ʃəs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR atrocious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, or brutal: an atrocious crime.

shockingly bad or tasteless; dreadful; abominable: an atrocious painting; atrocious manners.

Words nearby atrocious

atrioventricular node, atrioventricular septum, atrip, atrium, atroceruleous, atrocious, atrocious assault and battery, atrocity, atropatene, atrophedema, atrophia

Origin of atrocious

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

SYNONYMS FOR atrocious

1 felonious, heinous, monstrous, diabolical, devilish.

2 execrable; detestable.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR atrocious ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM atrocious

a·tro·cious·ly, adverba·tro·cious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for atrocious

Condemning them obscures the larger message to be taken from this atrocious crime.
The Fear That Killed Eight Ebola Workers|Abby Haglage|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On spending and economic issues, he was atrocious and hypocritical in all the ways that a Republican can be.
Now Let’s Replace All the Other Big-Spending Eric Cantors|Nick Gillespie|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Plus, his remake history is a mixed bag, with the solid True Grit and the atrocious Oldboy.
Robert Pattinson as Indiana Jones? Here Are Our Picks to Fill Harrison Ford’s Fedora|Marlow Stern|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Republicans were caught off-guard all campaign long and their response was atrocious.
Win Women, Win the Midterms|Kristen Soltis Anderson|April 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“The cutbacks that have been done to social and mental health services is atrocious,” she said.
Vegan Strippers Let It All Hang Out|Kelly Williams Brown|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He then bent his eye sternly upon the group of bailiffs, especially upon the rude ruffian, Grimes, whose conduct was so atrocious.
Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent|William Carleton
The record of England in relation to Ireland, is one of the most atrocious known to the history of mankind.
Ridgeway|Scian Dubh
To be atrocious within the rules was to create a new and thrilling sensation.
A History of French Literature|Edward Dowden
It would seem that his atrocious conduct has not prevented the Spaniards from promoting him.
The Great Round World And What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 22, April 8, 1897|Various
Worst of all in that final disintegration of his great soul was the interest he took in the atrocious frauds of spiritualism.
The Love Affairs of Great Musicians, Volume 2|Rupert Hughes

British Dictionary definitions for atrocious

atrocious

/ (əˈtrəʊʃəs) /

adjective

extremely cruel or wicked; ruthlessatrocious deeds

horrifying or shockingan atrocious road accident

informal very bad; detestableatrocious writing

Derived forms of atrocious

atrociously, adverbatrociousness, noun

Word Origin for atrocious

C17: from Latin ātrōx dreadful, from āter black

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

atrocious

adjective

Words related to atrocious

Words nearby atrocious

Origin of atrocious

SYNONYMS FOR atrocious

OTHER WORDS FROM atrocious

Examples from the Web for atrocious

British Dictionary definitions for atrocious

adjective

Derived forms of atrocious

Word Origin for atrocious