Word
outrageous
Phoneticsout·ra·geous, stress on the second syllable
US/aʊˈtɹeɪdʒəs/
UK/aʊtɹˈeɪdʒəs/
Definitions
01shocking and unfair
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very shocking and unacceptable because it is unfair or wrong.
adj. grossly offensive to decency or morality; provoking strong indignation.
“The price of a single bottle of water at the airport was absolutely outrageous.”
“The community was shocked by the outrageous treatment of the elderly residents, leading to a full-scale investigation into the facility's management.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02bold and unusual
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. very strange, bold, or unusual in a way that gets a lot of attention.
adj. exceeding the limits of what is usual or conventional; highly unconventional or provocative.
“She wore an outrageous hat with bright pink feathers to the wedding.”
“The comedian's outrageous sense of humour often pushed the boundaries of what the network considered appropriate for a prime-time audience.”
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Antonyms
03extreme or excessive
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. going far beyond what is normal or reasonable.
adj. transgressing reasonable limits; immoderate or excessive in degree.
“The company made outrageous demands during the contract negotiations.”
“The CEO's outrageous salary was a point of contention during the annual shareholder meeting, especially given the company's recent losses.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04violent or fierce
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
adj. very violent or full of anger.
adj. characterised by fury or physical violence.
“The outrageous storm destroyed several small boats in the harbour.”
“The knight was known for his outrageous temper, often striking out at his servants for the smallest of mistakes.”
Real-World Examples
“The UN secretary general, António Guterres, ecalled Ben-Gvir’s comments “appalling”, “outrageous”, “dehumanising” and “dangerous”.” “Their hopes then lay with Brook, who played some outrageous shots of his own, including an upper-cut over the keeper to get off the mark and a lofted six over extra cover.” Etymology
From Anglo-Norman outrageus, Middle French outrageus, from outrage; equivalent to outrage + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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