outrageous

adjective

out·​ra·​geous (ˌ)au̇t-ˈrā-jəs 

1

a

: exceeding the limits of what is usual

the outrageous weather we have been afflicted with

—New Yorker

outrageous prices

b

: not conventional or matter-of-fact : fantastic

outrageous costumes

an outrageous tale

2

: violent, unrestrained

outrageous behavior

3

a

: going beyond all standards of what is right or decent

an outrageous disregard of human rights

b

: deficient in propriety (see propriety sense 2a) or good taste

outrageous language

outrageous manners

outrageously adverb

outrageousness noun

Examples of outrageous in a Sentence

They will be punished for their outrageous behavior.

This is outrageous! I will not put up with such treatment.

She's known for her wild hairdos and outrageous costumes.

At first it seemed like an outrageous idea, but then we realized that it wasn't so crazy after all.

The article makes some outrageous claims about her personal life.

Recent Examples on the Web

But those first two seasons are really timeless — thrilling, ambitious, outrageous to this day. —Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

In the midst of the investigation, Mayo launched an outrageous attack on Pryor’s credibility and released part of her personnel file from her 26-year career in Fort Lauderdale to question why Moore hired her. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025

Whitehead said what’s happening now is a case of the internet doing what the internet often does: amplify the loudest and most outrageous voices. —David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

The activations on the beach were outrageous (in a good way) and must have cost a fortune. —David Doty, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outrageous

• advantageous
• contagious
• courageous
• disadvantageous

Kids Definition

outrageous

adjective

out·​ra·​geous au̇t-ˈrā-jəs 

: extremely annoying, insulting, or shameful : shocking

outrageously adverb

outrageousness noun

Legal Definition

outrageous

adjective

out·​ra·​geous au̇t-ˈrā-jəs 

: going beyond standards of decency : utterly intolerable in a civilized society

outrageous conduct

outrageously adverb

outrageousness noun