egregious

What does “egregious” mean?

adjective.outstandingly bad; shocking.

SAT Usage

this adjective often appears in contexts involving moral judgment, criticism, or discussions of behavior, particularly in literature, social commentary, or historical analysis. It emphasizes not just badness, but a flagrant disregard for standards or norms, making it stronger than terms like "bad" or "poor," which lack the same connotation of shocking severity.

Common Confusions

Egregious implies a shocking or flagrant violation of norms, while offensive usually suggests something that causes annoyance or displeasure but may not reach the level of severity implied by egregious.

Example Sentences

• The student has made egregious errors on the examination.

Word Parts: How to Remember “egregious”

Break “egregious” into its parts: ex- (out, outside) + -greg- (flock, crowd). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ex- out, outside (Latin)
• Root: -greg- flock, crowd (Latin)