egregious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "egregious" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is exceptionally bad or offensive. Example sentence: His comment was so egregious that everyone in the room was taken aback.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A ticking off from the UK statistics chief, Sir Andrew Dilnot, for an egregious misreading of the OECD education league tables also suggested a self-serving approach to evidence.

The Guardian

Levels of customer service are still probably the worst of any European capital, but truly egregious rudeness and aggression are now the exception rather than the norm, as a whole generation of Muscovites who have travelled the world no longer find surly, Soviet-style service acceptable at home.

The Guardian

"As loth as I am to give any credit to what's happened here, which is egregious, it's clear that some of the conversations this has generated, some of the debate, probably needed to happen," he said.

The Guardian

The incident was deemed to have been 'behavior that is flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a tournament or is singularly egregious'".

The Guardian - Sport

Perhaps the most egregious of all these behaviours is our ongoing commitment to bottled water.

The Guardian - Opinion

He made few egregious errors and introduced one or two imaginative initiatives.

The Guardian - Opinion

Starbucks may be the among most egregious tax-avoiders in the country, but coffee is a product with many other ethical concerns.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It's the first time in many of these leaks that there are really strong allegations not of egregious tax avoidance but of tax evasion, and that is incredibly serious," said Hodge.

The Guardian

The betrayal of one who agrees to put their life and limb on the line seems all the more egregious, as does the failure to maintain the duty of care.

The Guardian

One of the acts, the alien enemies act, was used by Franklin D Roosevelt to intern Japanese Americans during the second world war, another egregious example of government overreaction in the name of security.

The Guardian - Tech

And our government is not doing anything to provide relief to students even in the most egregious cases.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "egregious" when you want to emphasize that something is remarkably bad or conspicuously offensive. It's stronger than 'bad' or 'wrong' and implies a shocking deviation from what is acceptable.

Common error

While "egregious" is a powerful word, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "terrible" or "outrageous" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "egregious" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something exceptionally bad or conspicuously offensive. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, showcasing multiple examples where "egregious" qualifies various nouns, underscoring its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "egregious" is an adjective used to describe something that is remarkably bad or conspicuously offensive. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and sees very common usage across diverse contexts, primarily in news, business, and science. It's important to reserve "egregious" for situations where you want to emphasize the extreme negativity of something, avoiding overuse in informal contexts where simpler terms might be more appropriate. Be sure to check out alternatives such as "outrageous", "flagrant" or "appalling" to better express what you want.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outrageous

This alternative suggests something shocking and unacceptable, emphasizing a violation of standards.

flagrant

This alternative indicates a blatant and scandalous action, highlighting its visibility and offensiveness.

appalling

This alternative evokes a sense of disgust and horror, emphasizing the shocking nature of something.

heinous

This alternative describes something wicked and reprehensible, focusing on its moral depravity.

atrocious

This alternative points to something shockingly bad or terrible, emphasizing its poor quality or nature.

shocking

This alternative emphasizes the surprising and disturbing nature of something.

terrible

This alternative describes something extremely bad or serious, focusing on its negative impact.

unacceptable

This alternative denotes something that cannot be tolerated or allowed, emphasizing its rejection.

deplorable

This alternative describes something deserving strong condemnation, highlighting its blameworthiness.

abominable

This alternative suggests something intensely disliked or hated, focusing on its repulsiveness.

FAQs

How to use "egregious" in a sentence?

"Egregious" is used to describe something outstandingly bad or shocking. For example: "The company's failure to address the safety concerns was an "egregious" oversight."

What can I say instead of "egregious"?

You can use alternatives like "outrageous", "flagrant", or "appalling" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "egregious" or "egregrious"?

"Egregious" is the correct spelling. "Egregerious" is a misspelling and should be avoided.

What's the difference between "egregious" and "serious"?

"Egregious" implies that something is shockingly bad or conspicuously offensive, while "serious" simply means something is important or consequential. "Egregious" carries a stronger negative connotation.