# outrageous

/aʊˈtɹeɪdʒəs/ (US) · /aʊtɹˈeɪdʒəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outrageous
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. shocking and unfair

adjective · CEFR B2

very shocking and unacceptable because it is unfair or wrong.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. bold and unusual

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

very strange, bold, or unusual in a way that gets a lot of attention.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. extreme or excessive

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

going far beyond what is normal or reasonable.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. violent or fierce

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic

very violent or full of anger.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The prices at this restaurant are absolutely outrageous.
- The public was shocked by the outrageous behavior of the players during the championship game.
- While some critics praised the director's outrageous aesthetic choices as visionary, others felt the film's lack of restraint made it nearly unwatchable for a mainstream audience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.