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
But for every atrocious folly like The Devil Inside, there’s a novel, scary, or entertaining variation on the Blair Witch way.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 30 July 2024
The dollars that are funding this atrocious war could well be spent in a way that would directly benefit Americans.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
One viewpoint is that this is an atrocious violation of human sanctity.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Yet despite the atrocious conditions, the fixture went ahead as planned, and after 90 minutes of less-than-inspiring football, England had beaten Czechoslovakia 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for atrocious 
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A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 30 July 2024
The dollars that are funding this atrocious war could well be spent in a way that would directly benefit Americans.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
One viewpoint is that this is an atrocious violation of human sanctity.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Yet despite the atrocious conditions, the fixture went ahead as planned, and after 90 minutes of less-than-inspiring football, England had beaten Czechoslovakia 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for atrocious
Dictionary Entries Near atrocious
Cite this Entry
“Atrocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrocious. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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