Definition of atrocious
1 : extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel : barbaric prisoners subjected to atrocious treatment
2 : appalling, horrifying the atrocious weapons of modern war an atrocious accident
3a : utterly revolting : abominable atrocious working conditions atrocious weatherb : of very poor quality atrocious handwriting
atrociously
adverbatrociousness
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Examples of atrocious in a Sentence
… much of the manufactured-home industry employed sales practices that were atrocious. The need for meaningful down payments was frequently ignored. Sometimes fakery was involved. Moreover, impossible-to-meet monthly payments were being agreed to by borrowers who signed up because they had nothing to lose. —Warren E. Buffett, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
In the hands of a succession of more or less sadistic colonial governors and prison officers, convicts, particularly repeat offenders, found themselves subjected to atrocious punishments, flogged, committed to chain gangs, kept in underground pits, starved, and bullied. —Caroline Moorehead, New York Review of Books, 16 Nov. 2006
It would seem that by now the Tigers might be weary of analyzing their roller-coaster season, sick of reliving their atrocious 9-23 start and comparing it with their recent hot streak. —Sports Illustrated, 4 Sept. 2000
an atrocious period in the nation's history
an atrocious crime that shocked even hardened members of the police force
Recent Examples of atrocious from the Web
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There is a kind of dark humor that can be obtained from looking back on atrocious work experiences, including almost freezing to death – literally – on a temp job in Alaska (p.199).
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atrocious'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of atrocious
Latin atroc-, atrox gloomy, atrocious, from atr-, ater black + -oc-, -ox (akin to Greek ōps eye) — more at eye
First Known Use: 1604
ATROCIOUS Defined for English Language Learners
atrocious
playDefinition of atrocious for English Language Learners
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: very evil or cruel
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: very bad
ATROCIOUS Defined for Kids
atrocious
playDefinition of atrocious for Students
1 : extremely brutal, cruel, or wicked an atrocious crime
2 : very bad atrocious weather atrocious manners
atrociously
adverb behaved atrociouslyLaw Dictionary
atrocious
playLegal Definition of atrocious
: characterized by extreme cruelty or viciousness atrocious assault and battery
Learn More about atrocious
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See words that rhyme with atrocious Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for atrocious Spanish Central: Translation of atrocious Nglish: Translation of atrocious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of atrocious for Arabic speakers
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