1
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
an atrocious crime that shocked even hardened members of the police force
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
the picture quality on the pirated DVD was atrocious
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atrocious
Trump poses as a pro-worker force, but his policies are atrocious for the laboring class.
—
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
But that’s exactly what happened in the second half of an atrocious Rockets’ Game 2 loss to the Lakers.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
They’ve been defeated decisively in their past three games and their special teams have been atrocious across the span of their funk, killing just two thirds of their penalties and converting on only 8% of power-play opportunities.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
But Oklahoma Baptist was more than up to the challenge, and turned to its own defense to limit East Bay to an atrocious shooting day.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocious
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
But that’s exactly what happened in the second half of an atrocious Rockets’ Game 2 loss to the Lakers.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
They’ve been defeated decisively in their past three games and their special teams have been atrocious across the span of their funk, killing just two thirds of their penalties and converting on only 8% of power-play opportunities.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
But Oklahoma Baptist was more than up to the challenge, and turned to its own defense to limit East Bay to an atrocious shooting day.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrocious
Adjective
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Critically, Michael doesn’t recoil when Jackie shares her horrific story.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
-
And Russia has struggled to replenish its military ranks amid horrific casualties on the Ukrainian front line.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The delay seemed to Silva like one more indignity in a terrible series of events that began with her husband’s death in 2024.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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The logic here is peak modern NBA, and the league wants to make being slightly below average more rewarding than being truly terrible.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In Oddity, Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) is driven entirely by grief over the brutal murder of her twin sister.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Demand for EVs in China is slowing after the government trimmed consumer subsidies and perks, and there’s no end in sight to a brutal price war as a crowded field of EV rivals jostle to outperform and undercut one another.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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The gruesome case forced the Asahiyama Zoo, closed since early last month as part of regular maintenance ahead of the summer season, to delay its reopening scheduled for Wednesday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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Bathen says the gruesome details aren't a bother to some.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
3 May 2026
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Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest Again, this is horrible scheduling on a Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, three days before Forest go to Villa for the second leg of that Europa League semi-final.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Even his students can be casually cruel to each other, emulating a president that Artie almost cannot fathom.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
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Baseball is a sport built on failure surrounded by a cruel, cynical business, but this level of irony is almost too rich to digest.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Something shocking happens on Jeon-Gi’s last day at the camp.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
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Incredibly shocking moment in the run-up to the race as Great White is scratched.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Their banter is empty because outside the season’s premiere, The Boys hasn’t actually shown us this awful America, and how everyone within it, including celebrities, are at risk.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
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This state has had some awful governors, but none in modern times ever attempted anything so repugnant as exposing more children to deadly diseases, as DeSantis has.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atrocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrocious. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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