First Known Use: 1658
Dictionary
atrocious
adjective atro·cious \ə-ˈtrō-shəs\
: very evil or cruel
: very bad
Full Definition of ATROCIOUS
2
: appalling, horrifying <the atrocious weapons of modern war>
3
a : utterly revolting : abominable <atrocious working conditions> b : of very poor quality <atrocious handwriting>
— atro·cious·ly adverb
— atro·cious·ness noun
See atrocious defined for English-language learners
See atrocious defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of ATROCIOUS
- … much of the manufactured-home industry employed sales practices that were atrocious. The need for meaningful down payments was frequently ignored. Sometimes fakery was involved. Moreover, impossible-to-meet monthly payments were being agreed to by borrowers who signed up because they had nothing to lose. —Warren E. Buffett, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
- In the hands of a succession of more or less sadistic colonial governors and prison officers, convicts, particularly repeat offenders, found themselves subjected to atrocious punishments, flogged, committed to chain gangs, kept in underground pits, starved, and bullied. —Caroline Moorehead, New York Review of Books, 16 Nov. 2006
- It would seem that by now the Tigers might be weary of analyzing their roller-coaster season, sick of reliving their atrocious 9-23 start and comparing it with their recent hot streak. —Sports Illustrated, 4 Sept. 2000
- [+]more
Origin of ATROCIOUS
Latin atroc-, atrox gloomy, atrocious, from atr-, ater black + -oc-, -ox (akin to Greek ōps eye) — more at eye
Related to ATROCIOUS
Rhymes with ATROCIOUS
ATROCIOUSNESS Defined for Kids
atrocious
adjective atro·cious \ə-ˈtrō-shəs\
Definition of ATROCIOUS for Kids
1
: extremely brutal, cruel, or wicked <an atrocious crime>
2
: very bad <atrocious weather> <atrocious manners>
— atro·cious·ly adverb <behaved atrociously>
Learn More About ATROCIOUS
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up atrocious? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).