atrocious
12 synonyms and 3 antonyms for atrocious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Extremely cruel, brutal, or shocking.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use atrocious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
atrocious weather
atrocious behavior
atrocious grammar
Etymology
From Latin atrox ("cruel, fierce") + -ious.
Full origin of atrocious →Frequently asked questions
What does “atrocious” mean?
The word “atrocious” means extremely cruel, brutal, or shocking. In plain terms, either horrifyingly cruel, or, more casually, just extremely bad.
How do you pronounce “atrocious”?
“Atrocious” is pronounced uh-TROH-shuhs (/əˈtɹoʊ.ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “atrocious” in a sentence?
Here is “atrocious” used in a sentence: “The report detailed atrocious human rights abuses.”
What is another word for “atrocious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “atrocious” include abominable, dreadful, heinous, horrible and terrible.
What is the opposite of “atrocious”?
The opposite of “atrocious” — its antonyms — are excellent, superb and wonderful.
What part of speech is “atrocious”?
“Atrocious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “atrocious” come from?
The word “atrocious” comes from Latin. From Latin atrox ("cruel, fierce") + -ious.
Is “atrocious” a common word?
“Atrocious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
