1
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
George Orwell's novel 1984 captures the atrociousness of tyranny
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in badness
the state or quality of being utterly evil
the unspeakable atrociousness of the mass genocide that was perpetrated in that African nation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
for sheer atrociousness the murders committed by Jack the Ripper occupy a special place in the annals of crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrociousness
Noun
-
There’s a great line: Honesty without compassion equals cruelty.—
Jayson Jenks,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025 -
In each of these films, cruelty commingles with tenderness, and hideous acts take place against backdrops of often stunning natural beauty.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But the film expands upon the game’s lore to create a unique, funhouse horror experience, a celebration of multiple horror subgenres and practical effects.—
Richard Newby,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd’s twisted horror flick Death of a Unicorn is now available to watch from home.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But slightly lesser known is that film’s sort-of sequel, The Look of Silence, which tells the stories of victims of such atrocities.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Too often, shooters use unsecured weapons to commit these atrocities.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Remick is the defendant in two active police brutality lawsuits.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Prosecutors said Mahdi constantly used brutality to solve his problems.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Atrociousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrociousness. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share