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
Synonyms
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
Henry Kissinger, Manhattan social butterfly and Machiavellian architect of (literally) atrocious foreign policy, is dead at 100.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2023
The way that we were collectively gaslit into thinking [parents] were the good guys is actually atrocious.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2023
Our president demanded an immediate ceasefire to the atrocious, murderous assault by Israel on our civilians, on our people.
—CBS News, 5 Nov. 2023
Honestly recognizing and acknowledging the atrocious nature of Hamas’s betrayal of the Palestinian people and national movement on and since October 7 in no way excuses Israel for its own myriad depredations and abuses.
—Hussein Ibish, The New Republic, 1 Nov. 2023
Since Hamas’s atrocious attacks on October 7 left more than 1,400 Israelis dead in a single day, Israel’s response has exacted a heavy toll on the population of Gaza.
—Amaney A. Jamal, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2023
As the conflict that began with an atrocious attack on innocent civilians has escalated, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are on the run as the Israeli military moves to crush Hamas.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023
The historical drama moves well beyond the physical, forcing the viewer to look not just at some of the most atrocious moments in American history but at ourselves and the people who put our souls at ease.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2023
Adam McKay’s atrocious Don’t Look Up was humorless about its climate-change heroes (except when Meryl Streep got her just deserts).
—Armond White, National Review, 6 Oct. 2023
See More
Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2023
The way that we were collectively gaslit into thinking [parents] were the good guys is actually atrocious.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2023
Our president demanded an immediate ceasefire to the atrocious, murderous assault by Israel on our civilians, on our people.
—CBS News, 5 Nov. 2023
Honestly recognizing and acknowledging the atrocious nature of Hamas’s betrayal of the Palestinian people and national movement on and since October 7 in no way excuses Israel for its own myriad depredations and abuses.
—Hussein Ibish, The New Republic, 1 Nov. 2023
Since Hamas’s atrocious attacks on October 7 left more than 1,400 Israelis dead in a single day, Israel’s response has exacted a heavy toll on the population of Gaza.
—Amaney A. Jamal, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2023
As the conflict that began with an atrocious attack on innocent civilians has escalated, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are on the run as the Israeli military moves to crush Hamas.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023
The historical drama moves well beyond the physical, forcing the viewer to look not just at some of the most atrocious moments in American history but at ourselves and the people who put our souls at ease.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2023
Adam McKay’s atrocious Don’t Look Up was humorless about its climate-change heroes (except when Meryl Streep got her just deserts).
—Armond White, National Review, 6 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'atrocious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near atrocious
Cite this Entry
“Atrocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocious. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on atrocious
Nglish: Translation of atrocious for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of atrocious for Arabic Speakers
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