outrageous

IPA/aʊtˈreɪdʒəs/
KK[aʊtrˈedʒəs]IPA/aʊtˈreɪdʒəs/

outrageous — adjective

  • outrageouspositive
  • more outrageouscomparative
  • most outrageoussuperlative

1. so offensive, unfair, or extreme that it makes people angry or shocked

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

so offensive, unfair, or extreme that it makes people angry or shocked

Example

The judge called the company's excuse outrageous and fined it heavily.

pattern: call something outrageous

Many neighbors said it was outrageous that the landlord raised rent.

that-clause after outrageous

Common collocations
  • outrageous behavior
  • outrageous comment
  • outrageous lie
  • outrageous price
  • outrageous decision
Synonyms
  • shocking

    a broad everyday word for something that strongly surprises or upsets people

  • appalling

    stronger and more serious, often used for very bad behavior or suffering

  • unacceptable

    more formal and less emotional, stressing that something cannot be allowed

  • disgraceful

    stresses shame and bad behavior in front of other people

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

an outrageous comment

an outrageous price

be outrageous

it is outrageous that + clause

Usage Note

Common with nouns for behavior, prices, lies, and treatment, and often followed by a that-clause when someone is protesting. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about striking style or oddity rather than moral anger.

Common Mistakes

I was very outrageous by the email.
I was very outraged by the email.
'outraged' describes your feeling; 'outrageous' describes the thing that causes it.

2. so strange, bright, or dramatic that it strongly attracts attention

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

so strange, bright, or dramatic that it strongly attracts attention

Example

Lina wore an outrageous orange hat to the beach party.

attributive use: outrageous + clothing item

On stage, the singer appeared in outrageous boots and silver gloves.

Common collocations
  • outrageous outfit
  • outrageous hair
  • outrageous hat
  • outrageous costume
  • outrageous joke
Synonyms
  • bizarre

    very strange, often without the playful or stylish feeling

  • eccentric

    unusual in a personal or artistic way, often about a person's style

  • flamboyant

    bright and showy, sometimes with a positive or admiring tone

  • wild

    informal and often used for bold, surprising style or ideas

Antonyms
  • conventional

    following normal social or style rules

  • plain

    simple and not meant to attract attention

Grammar Patterns

outrageous clothes

outrageous hair

look outrageous

Usage Note

Usually describes clothes, hair, colours, jokes, or public behavior that draw attention on purpose. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense can sound amused or admiring, while sense 1 shows clear disapproval.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Outrageous' for sense 1 suggests that something goes so far beyond fairness or decency that people react with anger as well as surprise. 'Shocking' is broader and can be used for anything that strongly surprises people, even when it is not clearly wrong. 'Appalling' is usually stronger and darker, often used for cruelty, suffering, or very bad conditions. 'Unacceptable' is more formal and sounds cooler; it judges something as not allowed or not good enough. 'Disgraceful' adds the idea of shame, especially about public behavior. A rent rise after a flood may be outrageous; a violent attack may be appalling; a student's rude conduct in class may be disgraceful.

outrageous ↗shocking ↗appallingunacceptable ↗disgraceful ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • absolutely outrageous
  • completely outrageous
  • totally outrageous

Phrases

  • be called outrageous
  • seem outrageous
  • find something outrageous

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Built in English from the noun 'outrage' and the adjective ending '-ous'. The older noun came through French from a word meaning 'go beyond' or 'pass the proper limit', ultimately related to Latin 'ultra', meaning 'beyond'. That history matches the modern idea of something going too far.