adjective
Uncommon
atrocious
uh-TROH-shuhs
Atrocious (adjective) means Extremely cruel, brutal, or shocking. Example: “The report detailed atrocious human rights abuses.”
adjective
1
Extremely cruel, brutal, or shocking.
"The report detailed atrocious human rights abuses."
2
Very bad in quality; appalling.
"The weather was atrocious for the entire trip."
"His handwriting is atrocious."
How to use atrocious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither horrifyingly cruel, or, more casually, just extremely bad.
Common pairings
atrocious weather
atrocious behavior
atrocious grammar
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more atrocious
- Superlative
- most atrocious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The report detailed _____ human rights abuses.
Etymology
From Latin atrox ("cruel, fierce") + -ious.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for atrocious
See all rhymes for 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.
