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
However, their defense has been atrocious, allowing 28.3 points per game, which is tied with the Cowboys for 30th in the NFL.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Judges often trim down sentences because of the atrocious conditions at the Sunset Park jail, where two men were fatally stabbed just six weeks apart over the summer.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2024
Chile, despite being atrocious for the first nine games of this campaign, still have qualification to fight for.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
But after nearly a decade of quarterback play that has ranged from mediocre to atrocious, fans can be forgiven for failing to apply a governor to their collective optimism.
—Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for atrocious 
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Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Judges often trim down sentences because of the atrocious conditions at the Sunset Park jail, where two men were fatally stabbed just six weeks apart over the summer.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2024
Chile, despite being atrocious for the first nine games of this campaign, still have qualification to fight for.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
But after nearly a decade of quarterback play that has ranged from mediocre to atrocious, fans can be forgiven for failing to apply a governor to their collective optimism.
—Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 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 17 Dec. 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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