atrociousness
atrociousness Lexical Profile
atrociousness Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The quality or state of being extremely wicked, cruel, or heinous.
"The historical tribunal documented the sheer atrociousness of the regime's treatment of political prisoners."
The quality of being of very poor, unpleasant, or unacceptable quality.
"Despite the atrociousness of the weather, the outdoor music festival continued as scheduled."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'atrocity' usually refers to a specific, countable act of extreme cruelty or violence, 'atrociousness' denotes the abstract quality of being heinous or, in informal contexts, the state of being of exceptionally poor quality.
• Rhymes for atrociousness
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 17th century from the adjective 'atrocious' plus the native English suffix '-ness', ultimately tracing back to Latin 'atrox', meaning fierce, savage, or cruel.