outrageous
/aut'reidʤəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; shockingly excessive or unfair. This meaning describes something that is unreasonable, extreme, or far beyond what is acceptable.
- Grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror or shock. This meaning describes something that is deeply shocking, morally repugnant, or horrifying.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The company charged an outrageous price for a simple repair. (This shows something is shockingly excessive and unfair.)
- The dictator's outrageous cruelty towards his own people was condemned worldwide. (This shows something is morally horrifying and offensive.)
- She told an outrageous lie that no one could believe. (This shows something is shockingly excessive and beyond reason.)
- The conditions in the factory were outrageous and inhumane. (This shows something is grossly offensive to decency.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be outrageous": to behave in a shockingly bold, excessive, or unconventional way.
- The comedian's jokes were so outrageous that half the audience was gasping.
- "outrageous fortune": a phrase, famously from Shakespeare's ("the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune"), referring to the extreme and cruel blows dealt by fate or life's circumstances.
Variants and Related Words
- Outrage (n/v): (n) an extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation; (v) to provoke such feelings by being shocking or offensive.
- The new law caused public outrage.
- His comments outraged the community.
- Outrageously (adv): in an outrageous manner.
- The bill was outrageously high.
Synonyms
- Exorbitant: (of a price or amount) unreasonably high.
- Extortionate: (of a price) excessively high; akin to robbery.
- Unconscionable: not right or reasonable; shockingly unfair.
- Appalling: causing shock or dismay; horrific.
- Atrocious: horrifyingly wicked; of very poor quality.
Antonyms
- Reasonable: fair and sensible.
- Moderate: average in amount, intensity, or quality; not extreme.
- Acceptable: able to be tolerated or allowed.
- Decent: conforming with generally accepted standards of morality.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Beyond the pale: unacceptable or outside the bounds of civilized behavior (similar in meaning to the second definition of "outrageous").
- His behavior at the meeting was beyond the pale.
- Highway robbery: used informally to describe a price that is outrageously high and unfair.
- Ten dollars for a cup of coffee? That's highway robbery!
Adjective
- greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
- exorbitant rent
- extortionate prices
- spends an outrageous amount on entertainment
- usurious interest rate
- unconscionable spending
- grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
- subjected to outrageous cruelty
- a hideous pattern of injustice
- horrific conditions in the mining industry