Flagrantly

Flagrantly is an adverb describing actions or conduct that are conspicuously wrong, improper, or offensive and carried out in a shameless or obvious manner. It implies a breach of social, legal, or ethical norms that is readily apparent, leaving little room for denial. The word is formed from the adjective flagrant, with the adverbial suffix -ly.

Etymology and sense: Flagrant derives from Latin flagrantem, the present participle of flagrare, “to burn.” Through Old French flagrant and Middle English, it came to describe something literally burning and, by extension, something obvious or notorious in a figurative sense. In modern English, flagrantly typically modifies actions or behavior that are morally or legally indefensible.

Usage and nuance: Flagrantly typically appears in formal or journalistic writing when the writer intends to stress severity or moral judgment. It commonly collocates with verbs such as violate, disregard, breach, or misrepresent, as in “the company flagrantly violated safety standards.” It can describe acts, statements, or biases described as “flagrantly biased” or “flagrantly illegal.” In legal language, the related phrase in flagrante delicto denotes being caught in the act of wrongdoing.

Related terms: Flagrant is closely related but generally describes the act or condition rather than the manner of action; synonyms include glaring, brazen, and blatant, though usage shades differ. Antonyms include discreet, subtle, and inconspicuous.