Egregious is an adjective used for something that is shockinglyin a way that causes great surprise because it is very bad bad, especiallymore in one particular case than others in a way that is hard to ignore. It usually describes a serious mistakean incorrect action, decision, or statement, lie, or wrong behavior.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /ih-GREE-jəs/

Easy pronunciation: ih-GREE-juhs (approximate spelling).

Stress: Primary stress on the second syllable: GREE.

Adjective meaning conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Egregious Meaning

shockingly bad and hard to ignore

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

Example: an egregious lie

Synonyms for this meaning:

• flagrant — A strong substitute when something is openly and obviously wrong.
• glaring — Works well for an obvious and serious mistake or problem.
• gross — Can fit when something is seriously wrong, though it is broader in use.
• rank — Can mean extremely bad, but it is less common in everyday use.
• crying — Can mean obvious and serious, but it is more formal and less common.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Egregious Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• flagrant
• glaring
• gross

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Do not use egregious to mean 'excellent' or 'remarkable' in modern everyday English; that older sense is rare and can be confusing.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does egregious mean?

Egregious means shockingly bad, especially in a way that is obvious or outrageous.

What are common synonyms for egregious?

Common synonyms include flagrant, glaring, gross, rank, and crying, depending on the context.

Is egregious positive or negative?

It is strongly negative. It is used for something very bad or offensive.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.