Synonyms of atrocious

atrocious

adjective

ə-ˈtrō-shəs 

1

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent

an atrocious crime that shocked even hardened members of the police force

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrific
• gruesome
• horrible
• terrible
• shocking
• nightmare
• awful
• terrific
• dreadful
• horrifying
• hideous
• frightening
• appalling
• horrid
• terrifying
• horrendous
• nightmarish
• scary
• ghastly
• sickening
• grisly
• disgusting
• frightful
• monstrous
• macabre
• lurid
• alarming
• ugly
• dire
• deplorable
• obscene
• fearful
• offensive
• formidable
• abominable
• loathsome
• revolting
• repulsive
• heinous
• abhorrent
• grotesque
• repugnant
• direful
• obnoxious
• odious
• disagreeable
• unspeakable
• forbidding
• intimidating
• evil
• fearsome
• distasteful
• vile
• redoubtable
• gut-wrenching
• nauseating
• noxious
• noisome
• bloodcurdling
• hair-raising
• unsightly
• heart-stopping
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• attractive
• delightful
• delicious
• enjoyable
• appealing
• agreeable
• welcome
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• delectable
• enticing
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

2

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory

the picture quality on the pirated DVD was atrocious

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrible
• horrible
• awful
• poor
• abysmal
• bad
• dismal
• lousy
• wretched
• rotten
• execrable
• sucky
• flawed
• defective
• inadequate
• shameful
• substandard
• deficient
• insufficient
• miserable
• inferior
• contemptible
• punk
• mediocre
• lacking
• worthless
• useless
• reprehensible
• faulty
• abominable
• wanting
• off
• odious
• damnable
• low-grade
• vile
• valueless
• bum
• fiendish
• second-rate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• excellent
• marvelous
• exceptional
• superior
• adequate
• prime
• first-class
• sufficient
• choice
• bitchin'
• premium
• acceptable
• first-rate
• satisfactory

3

as in brutal

having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others

the atrocious treatment of prisoners at the camps

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brutal
• cruel
• vicious
• savage
• ruthless
• barbarous
• inhuman
• murderous
• inhumane
• barbaric
• sadistic
• merciless
• ferocious
• heartless
• oppressive
• brute
• fiendish
• harsh
• truculent
• hateful
• butcherly
• malicious
• pitiless
• wanton
• grim
• red in tooth and claw
• fell
• sanguinary
• bloodthirsty
• malignant
• unfeeling
• spiteful
• malevolent
• vindictive
• draconian
• cutthroat
• nasty
• malign
• ironhearted
• hard-hearted
• sanguine
• mean
• stonyhearted
• catty
• heavy-handed
• despiteful
• draconic
• hardhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benign
• sympathetic
• kind
• humane
• compassionate
• warm
• charitable
• lenient
• merciful
• benignant
• kindhearted
• good-hearted
• tender
• pitying
• peaceful
• tenderhearted
• warmhearted
• peaceable
• pacific
• clement

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of atrocious

The heat was punishing, the aesthetic was strictly corporate and the soccer itself was deeply atrocious. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 June 2026

Then again, perhaps this guest was anticipating her hosts’ atrocious behavior. — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026

Japan didn’t surrender after the equally atrocious firebombing of Tokyo. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026

The weather was fairly atrocious for much of my road driving in the RS5, with a mix of rain and late May snow at altitude. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2026