Atrociously: meaning, definitions and examples

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atrociously

[əˈtrəʊʃəsli ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

behavior

In a manner extremely evil or cruel; shockingly bad or tasteless.

Synonyms

awfully, horribly, terribly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
atrociously	This is used when something is done in an extremely bad or cruel manner, often implying moral outrage. The dictator ruled the country atrociously, violating human rights at every turn The play was performed atrociously, leaving the audience in despair
horribly	This is used to describe something that causes horror or is very bad, often in a shocking way. The food tasted horribly She felt horribly ill after eating spoiled food
awfully	This word is often used in casual conversation to emphasize something is very bad or unpleasant. The weather has been awfully cold lately That movie was awfully boring
terribly	This can be used to describe something that is very bad or causes intense suffering, and it’s often used to express sympathy or regret. He did terribly on the test I'm terribly sorry about your loss

Examples of usage

She was treated atrociously by her captors.
The food at the restaurant was atrociously bad.
The movie was criticized for its atrociously violent scenes.

^{Context #2 | Adverb}

quality

In a very poor or bad quality.

Synonyms

badly, poorly, shoddily.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
atrociously	To describe something done in an extremely bad or horrifying manner. Often used for strong emphasis. The movie was atrociously boring. He was treated atrociously by his colleagues.
poorly	To describe something done in a weak, insufficient, or inadequate manner, often implying lack of skill or resources. The essay was poorly written. He performed poorly in the exam.
badly	To describe something done in a poor or substandard manner. It's a general term and widely used in everyday conversation. She sang badly at the audition. The project was managed badly and missed all deadlines.
shoddily	To describe something done in a careless or inferior manner. It often implies low quality and lack of effort, and has a negative connotation. The repair work was shoddily done. The product was shoddily constructed and broke quickly.

Examples of usage

The painting was done atrociously.
The job was executed atrociously.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'atrox', meaning cruel or savage, first appearing in English in the late 16th century.
It was originally used to describe actions that were brutal or wicked before evolving to its broader use in describing situations and behaviors.
In Old French, 'atroce' also carried connotations of cruelty and fierceness, reflecting similar meanings across languages.

Literature

Writers have often used 'atrociously' to heighten emotion in their works, making it clear that something is not just bad, but extraordinarily so.
Famous novels, like George Orwell's dystopian works, often demonstrate atrocious conditions to reflect societal issues.
Poetry may use this term to evoke strong imagery, emphasizing the severe nature of the subject matter.

Psychology

Experiencing something described as atrocious can trigger strong emotional responses, such as anger or disgust, tapping into our basic survival instincts.
The human brain tends to remember negative experiences more vividly, which is why the word is often impactful when used to describe events.
Psychological studies show that provocative language can influence people's perception of reality, making 'atrocious' a powerful word in describing life experiences.

Pop Culture

The term 'atrocious' often appears in movie reviews, indicating a film that fails dramatically, gaining notoriety in negative critiques.
In social media, phrases like 'atrocious behavior' are commonly used to call out unacceptable actions, especially during viral trends.
Songs and music lyrics sometimes leverage the word to emphasize emotional turmoil or societal problems.

History

Historical texts often describe wars or atrocities wherever mass suffering is concerned, lending weight to the concept of things being not just bad, but atrocious.
Issues like human rights violations are often described with this word to convey the depth of suffering involved, providing a chilling context to events.
During major events, whether political or social uprisings, public responses often evoke the term 'atrocious' to underline the severity of actions taken against civilians.

Translations

Translations of the word "atrociously" in other languages:

🇵🇹 atrozmente

🇮🇳 भयानक रूप से

🇩🇪 grässlich

🇮🇩 sangat kejam

🇺🇦 жахливо

🇵🇱 okropnie

🇯🇵 ひどく

🇫🇷 atrocement

🇪🇸 atrozmente

🇹🇷 dehşet verici bir şekilde

🇰🇷 끔찍하게

🇸🇦 بشكل شنيع

🇨🇿 strašně

🇸🇰 strašne

🇨🇳 残忍地

🇸🇮 grozno

🇮🇸 hræðilega

🇰🇿 қорқынышты түрде

🇬🇪 საშინლად

🇦🇿 dəhşətli

🇲🇽 atrozmente

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,570, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

...
36567 suppurate
36568 buttering
36569 formalise
36570 atrociously
36571 trashing
36572 rambler
36573 babyish
...