1
Core quality
Outstandingly and conspicuously bad, wrong, or offensive.
Example
The audit uncovered egregious misuse of public funds.
egregious
/ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/ · ih-GREE-jusadjective
Outstandingly and conspicuously bad, wrong, or offensive.
Use egregious to express this relationship precisely: outstandingly and conspicuously bad, wrong, or offensive.
What egregious Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
An egregious calculation error altered the conclusion.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
The court reserved its strongest criticism for the most egregious violations.
Use egregious Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The audit uncovered egregious misuse of public funds.
An egregious calculation error altered the conclusion.
The court reserved its strongest criticism for the most egregious violations.
Precision Matters
Egregious overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
egregious
vs.Means outstandingly and conspicuously bad, wrong, or offensive.
trivial
Means of little importance or consequence.
egregious
vs.Means outstandingly and conspicuously bad, wrong, or offensive.
modest
Means limited or moderate in size, amount, ambition, or importance; also, not boastful about oneself.
egregious
vs.Means outstandingly and conspicuously bad, wrong, or offensive.
irreproachable
Means beyond criticism; faultless in conduct or quality.
egregious
vs.Means outstandingly and conspicuously bad, wrong, or offensive.
flagrant
Means conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.
Test egregious in Context
The breach was exceptionally and conspicuously bad.
1
The agency called the deliberate falsification of safety records an ___ breach of professional standards.