atrocious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'atrocious' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe something as very bad, unpleasant, or shocking in a negative way. For example: "The painting of the bedroom was an atrocious mess with paint all over the floor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's the most dangerous and atrocious human impulse there is.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw went so far as to call Inglourious Basterds "achtung-achtung-ach-mein-Gott atrocious", adding: "It isn't funny; it isn't exciting; it isn't a realistic war movie, yet neither is it an entertaining genre spoof or a clever counterfactual wartime yarn.

The Guardian - Film

Phil Harrison "If you've got cancer, this lake's the answer!" Season two of the crass animated comedy – imagine Dapper Laughs alone in his darkened room hammering out atrocious Family Guy fanfic – opens with the discovery of a lake within America's worst national park that has healing properties.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It's atrocious," said Hall. "Will no lessons be learned from my brother's shooting?

The Guardian

We just have to absorb atrocious information as best we can, without being too smug about our ability at a glance to divide the past into its areas of light and dark.

The Guardian - Film

The delivery is atrocious.

The Guardian - Sport

Although construction was then hampered by atrocious winter weather, much of the infrastructure is in place and some of the 65,000 trees and plants have begun to arrive.

The Economist

The site might be a link to one of the most atrocious sets of crimes Japan committed during the second world war.

The Economist

Failure to do that suggests at best atrocious cynicism and at worst a nauseating sympathy with the perpetrators.

The Economist

Senator Petro is badmouthing a good and truthful administration when he himself as a member of a terrorist group could conceal his atrocious crimes and was never brought to justice.Ernesto OteroBogota, Colombia.

The Economist

The extreme violence associated with the LRA, the abduction of children, the atrocious things that have been done, seem incomprehensible from the outside, but by thinking one's way into the idiom of daily life one can understand why the nightmare is of that particular kind.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "atrocious" to describe something that is exceptionally bad or unpleasant, especially when emphasizing its shocking or offensive nature. For example, "The conditions in the prison were atrocious."

Common error

Avoid using "atrocious" in overly casual situations where a milder term like "bad" or "unpleasant" would suffice. The word carries a strong negative connotation and should be reserved for truly severe cases.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "atrocious" functions as an evaluative descriptor, expressing a very negative judgment about the noun it modifies. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, highlighting its role in conveying strong disapproval or condemnation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "atrocious" is a powerful adjective used to express extreme negativity or disapproval. Ludwig AI confirms it as grammatically correct, and very common in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. It's best used when you want to emphasize the shocking or offensive nature of something, but avoid overuse in casual conversations. Alternatives like "dreadful", "appalling", and "terrible" can be used depending on the context and intensity you wish to convey. Remember to reserve "atrocious" for situations that truly warrant such a strong descriptor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heinous

Specifically denotes something shockingly evil or wicked.

abominable

Suggests something detestable and loathsome.

appalling

Emphasizes the shocking and upsetting nature of something.

egregious

Refers to something conspicuously bad or offensive.

horrendous

Highlights the causing of horror or terror.

deplorable

Stresses the deserving of strong condemnation.

dreadful

Focuses more on inspiring fear or awe, rather than inherent badness.

outrageous

Highlights something shocking and morally unacceptable.

terrible

A more general term for something very bad.

awful

Similar to terrible, but can also imply something unpleasant.

FAQs

How to use "atrocious" in a sentence?

Use "atrocious" to describe something extremely bad or unpleasant. For instance, "The weather was atrocious all week", or "The acting in that film was truly atrocious".

What can I say instead of "atrocious"?

You can use alternatives like "dreadful", "appalling", or "terrible" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "atrocious" or "bad"?

"Atrocious" and "bad" are both correct, but they differ in intensity. "Atrocious" implies something far worse than simply "bad". It suggests something shockingly or horrifically bad.

What's the difference between "atrocious" and "terrible"?

"Terrible" is a general term for something unpleasant or bad. "Atrocious" is a stronger term indicating something extremely wicked, brutal, or shockingly bad. It implies a greater degree of negativity than "terrible".