atrocious
adjective
atro·cious
ə-ˈtrō-shəs 
2
: appalling, horrifying
the atrocious weapons of modern war
an atrocious accident
3
a
: utterly revolting : abominable
atrocious working conditions
atrocious weather
b
: of very poor quality
atrocious handwriting
atrociously
adverb
atrociousness
noun
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
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 on the Web
Money in circulation reflected the atrocious policy that plainly restrained production.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
The tendon pain is all gone, but the grip strength on my fretting hand is atrocious, and a lot of the nerve sensation hasn’t come back.
—Dan Reilly, Vulture, 18 June 2025
The management of the crime scene was atrocious and the amateur nature of the collection of evidence was very harmful to the prosecution.
—Jenna Sundel
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
And since the engine was still hanging out over the back axle, handling remained atrocious.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocious
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John Tamny, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
The tendon pain is all gone, but the grip strength on my fretting hand is atrocious, and a lot of the nerve sensation hasn’t come back.
—Dan Reilly, Vulture, 18 June 2025
The management of the crime scene was atrocious and the amateur nature of the collection of evidence was very harmful to the prosecution.
—Jenna Sundel
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
And since the engine was still hanging out over the back axle, handling remained atrocious.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for atrocious
Cite this Entry
“Atrocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocious. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
atrocious
adjective
atro·cious
ə-ˈtrō-shəs
1
: savagely wicked, brutal, or cruel
2
: very bad
atrocious weather
atrociously
adverb
atrociousness
noun
Legal Definition
atrocious
adjective
atro·cious
ə-ˈtrō-shəs
: characterized by extreme cruelty or viciousness
atrocious assault and battery
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