atrociousadj.
/əˈtrəʊʃəs/, U.S. /əˈtroʊʃəs/ 1. Characterized by savage enormity; excessively and wantonly cruel; heinously wicked:
a. of actions.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > heinousness > [adjective]
awlyc1200
grievousa1300
grilla1300
uglya1300
strongc1300
outrageousa1325
heinousc1374
excessive1393
curseda1400
fella1400
misshapenc1400
rankc1400
monstruousc1425
enorm1481
prodigiousc1487
villainous1489
nefand1490
sceleratea1513
monstrous1531
funestal1538
enormious1545
facinorous1548
flagitious1550
dire1567
bonable1575
felonious1575
bomination1589
unvenial?1589
heathenish1592
enormous1593
villainous1598
nameless1611
pitchy1612
funest1636
funestous1641
scarleta1643
nefandous1649
aversable1663
atrocious1669
frightful1700
flagrant1706
atrocea1734
diabolical1750
unspeakable1831
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > extremely wicked > specifically of actions or qualities
strong?c1225
grievousa1300
flagitious1550
grossful1613
scarleta1643
atrocious1669
atrocea1734
purple1905
1669 A. Honyman Surv. Naphtali II. 203 If it [a fault] be atrocious and landdefiling.
1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin Narr. Surv. Voy. H.M.S. Adventure & Beagle III. ii. 27 Atrocious acts, which can only take place in a slave country.
b. of persons or agents.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > heinousness > heinous person > [adjective]
flagitiousc1384
arrant1393
errant1393
scarleta1643
atrocious1772
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > extremely wicked
deepOE
blackOE
outrageousa1325
heinousc1374
flagitiousc1384
excessive1393
rankc1400
enorm1481
prodigiousc1487
villainous1489
terriblec1510
sceleratea1513
monstrous1531
enormious1545
facinorous1548
monstruous1562
felonious1575
enormous1593
facinoriousa1616
rounda1638
scarlet1710
facinerose1727
atrocious1772
outraging1895
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > ill-treatment > cruelty > [adjective]
wrothc893
retheeOE
hateleOE
grim971
hardOE
cruel1297
despitousc1374
savagea1393
fadea1400
hetera1400
keen?c1425
vengeablec1430
despiteful1488
unmanfula1500
despiteous?1510
cruent1524
felonish1530
Herodian1581
felly1583
savaged1583
Neronian1598
savagious1605
Dionysian1608
black-blooded1771
atrocious1772
Neroic1851
Neronic1864
1772 T. Pennant Tours Scotl. (1774) 252 Here all atrocious criminals were excluded.
1833 I. Taylor Fanaticism vi. 21 Human nature..may become atrocious in a degree that confounds every distinction between human and diabolical wickedness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > [adjective]
heavyc825
grimc900
strongeOE
hardeOE
drearyOE
eileOE
sweerOE
deara1000
bitterOE
tartc1000
smartOE
unridec1175
sharp?c1225
straitc1275
grievousc1290
fellc1330
shrewda1387
snella1400
unsterna1400
vilea1400
importunea1425
ungainc1425
thrallc1430
peisant1483
sore?a1513
weighty1540
heinous?1541
urgent?1542
asperous?1567
dure1567
spiny1586
searching1590
hoara1600
vengible1601
flinty1613
tugging1642
atrocious1733
uncannya1774
severe1774
stern1830
punishing1833
hefty1867
solid1916
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [adjective]
eislichc888
eyesfulOE
awfulc1175
smarta1200
ferlya1225
sternc1275
grisea1300
uglya1300
dreadfula1325
fell?c1335
stout1338
perilousc1380
terriblec1400
ghastfulc1449
timorous1455
epouventable1477
bedreadc1485
dreadablec1490
dreadc1540
buggisha1555
dreaded1556
monster-like1561
dire1567
scareful1567
terrifying1577
scary1582
direful1583
affrighting1592
dismal1594
affrightful1603
diral1606
tirable1607
frighting1619
scaring1641
affrighteninga1651
formidolous1656
terrific1667
terrifical1677
atrocious1733
terrorful1789
orful1845
lurid1850
terrorsome1890
turble1893
timorsome1894
like the wrath of God1936
1733 G. Cheyne Eng. Malady i. vi. 59 Nervous Diseases..with higher and more numerous, and atrocious Symptoms.
1735 J. Thomson Greece: 2nd Pt. Liberty 305 The fierce, atrocious frown of sinewed Mars.
3. colloquial. Very bad, shocking, execrable.
ΚΠ
1885 N.E.D. at Atrocious Mod. What an atrocious pun!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1669