Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Egregious
adjective
/ ih-GREE-jus /
Hard
Meaning
Outstandingly bad, shocking, or conspicuous; flagrantly wrong or offensive beyond ordinary levels.
Origin / Etymology
Latin egregius (standing out from the flock), from e- (out of) + grex (flock) — originally meant 'distinguished', but meaning inverted over time
Synonyms
Outrageous
Flagrant
Appalling
Antonyms
Minor
Acceptable
Commendable
Example Sentence
"The Supreme Court termed the custodial death of the accused an egregious violation of Article 21, holding the state vicariously liable for the acts of its police officers."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Use in GS2 Governance, GS4 Ethics, and Essay answers when describing severe violations of rights, gross dereliction of duty, or extreme instances of corruption. Stronger than 'serious' or 'grave' — reserve for truly shocking cases.
Relevant Subjects