egregious
adjective
Outstandingly bad; shocking; remarkably bad or offensive.
Etymology
From Latin egregius "outstanding," from ex "out of" + grex "flock." Originally meant standing out positively—remarkably good!
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The report cited egregious violations of safety codes."
- 2.
"It was an egregious error that cost them the game."
- 3.
"His egregious behavior shocked even his supporters."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Egregious underwent complete meaning reversal. It once meant "standing out from the flock" positively—distinguished, outstanding. Now it only describes things outstandingly bad. This shift is called pejoration.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 9 letters (E, G, R, E, G, I, O, U, S)
Scrabble Value: 11 points
Tip: Words ending in "US" are often good scoring opportunities.
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