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 will always be injustice, cruelty and abuses of power.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
13 June 2025 -
But by holding the threat of losing access to your grandchildren over you, your kids are showing an unnecessary amount of cruelty to people (you) who don’t deserve it.—
Eric Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
In the illuminated texts of the medieval and early Renaissance periods, artists decided to rachet up the horrors of Agrippina’s matricide.—
Diana Arterian
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
-
In that sense, this lasting legacy of this really good horror movie may well prove to be the shot-in-the-arm given to the blues.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
Throughout, the novel chips away at its foundational questions: Does there exist a punishment equal to the atrocity of killing one’s child?—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
-
The story of the atrocity is still being unearthed 140 years later.—
Stephen Miller,
Bluesky Social,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
But the picture’s cartoonish brutality is cathartic.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
6 June 2025
-
The speed, brutality, and clandestine manner in which these children were deported is beyond unconscionable, and every official responsible for it should be held accountable.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 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 20 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share