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Definition of atrocious

atrocious

/əˈtroʊ.ʃəs/
a · tro · cious
Adverb:atrociously
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atrocious Lexical Profile

atrocious Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Of a very poor quality; extremely bad or unpleasant.

Example

"We decided to postpone our hike because the weather forecast looked atrocious."

2

Horrifyingly wicked, brutal, or cruel.

Example

"The historical tribunal documented the atrocious treatment of prisoners during the conflict."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for atrocious

• Nearby Words

atrek
atrial
atrium
atrocious
atrociously
atrociousness
atrocity

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Latin atrox (stem atroc-), meaning 'fierce, savage, or cruel', derived from ater ('black' or 'gloomy') combined with the suffix -ox ('looking').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Atrocious. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/atrocious
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