atrocious

Atrocious is an adjective used to describe something extremely bad, unpleasant, or shocking in quality, behavior, or effect. It is commonly applied to actions, performances, conditions, or events that depart markedly from accepted standards. The term often carries strong moral judgment—an atrocious crime, an atrocious mistake—though it can be used more broadly to emphasize poor quality or competence.

Etymology: The word comes from Old French atroce or atrocieux, which in turn derives from Latin atrox, atrocis meaning fierce or cruel. In English, the sense of shock or moral outrage extended to describe acts, conditions, or performances that are exceptionally bad. The word entered English in the early modern period, roughly the 16th century.

Usage notes: The connotation of atrocious is highly negative and emphatic, and it is not a neutral synonym for “bad.” It is more forceful and may sound hyperbolic in casual speech. The adverb form is atrociously, as in “performing atrociously,” and the related noun atrocity refers to a cruel or horrifying act, often in historical or news contexts. Related terms include atrociousness (rare) and synonyms such as horrendous, egregious, or terrible.