Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely wicked, cruel, or brutal: Describes acts, behaviors, or people that are shockingly evil, violent, or inhumane.
   • Exceptionally bad, unpleasant, or of very low quality: Describes things, conditions, or performances that are remarkably poor, offensive, or displeasing.

Examples of Usage

• Describing cruelty or wickedness:
  • The dictator was responsible for atrocious acts against his own people.
  • Murder is an atrocious crime.
• Describing poor quality or unpleasantness:
  • We had to cancel the picnic due to the atrocious weather.
  • The food at that restaurant was atrocious; I couldn't eat it.

Advanced Usage

• "atrociously" (adverb): In an atrocious manner.
  • The prisoners were treated atrociously.
  • The room was atrociously decorated.
• "atrociousness" (noun): The quality of being atrocious.
  • The atrociousness of the war crimes shocked the world.

Variants and Related Words

• Atrocity (noun): An extremely wicked or cruel act, often involving violence.
  • The tribunal investigated the atrocities committed during the conflict.

Synonyms

• Describing cruelty: Heinous, monstrous, barbaric, grievous, horrifying.
• Describing poor quality: Abominable, dreadful, awful, terrible, appalling.

Related Phrases

• Commit an atrocity: To perform an extremely cruel or violent act.
  • The invading army was accused of committing atrocities.
• Atrocious conditions: Exceptionally bad or unbearable circumstances.
  • The refugees were living in atrocious conditions.

Adjective

1. provoking horror
   • an atrocious automobile accident
   • a frightful crime of decapitation
   • an alarming, even horrifying, picture
   • war is beyond all words horrible- Winston Churchill
   • an ugly wound
2. exceptionally bad or displeasing
   • atrocious taste
   • abominable workmanship
   • an awful voice
   • dreadful manners
   • a painful performance
   • terrible handwriting
   • an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room
3. shockingly brutal or cruel
   • murder is an atrocious crime
   • a grievous offense against morality
   • a grievous crime
   • no excess was too monstrous for them to commit