atrocious

/əˈtroʊʃəs/

/əˈtrʌʊʃɪs/

Atrocious is a great word, but there's nothing good about its meaning or its synonyms: horrible, ugly, abominable, dreadful, unspeakable, and monstrous, to name just a few.

The adjective atrocious is descended from the Latin atrox, which means "fierce" and "cruel." We hear this word all the time when something provokes horror (like a massive earthquake), when something is exceptionally bad or displeasing (like the worst movie we've ever seen, and the worse acting), or when we see something shockingly brutal or cruel (like an act of terrorism).

Definitions of atrocious

1. adjective

   shockingly brutal or cruel
   “murder is an atrocious crime”

   synonyms: flagitious, grievous, monstrous

   evil

   morally bad or wrong
2. adjective

   provoking horror
   “an atrocious automobile accident”

   synonyms: frightful, horrible, horrifying, ugly

   alarming

   frightening because of an awareness of danger
3. adjective

   exceptionally bad or displeasing
   “atrocious taste”

   synonyms: abominable, abysmal, awful, dreadful, painful, terrible, unspeakable, vile

   bad

   having undesirable or negative qualities