Word: egregious (adjective)

Associations

"Egregious" means very bad or shocking. It is often used to describe actions or mistakes that are extreme or out of the ordinary in a negative way.

• Example 1: The lawyer made an egregious error in the case that cost his client a lot of money. (Here, "egregious" highlights the seriousness of the mistake.)
• Example 2: The company's egregious disregard for safety led to a serious accident. (This shows a shocking level of neglect.)
• Example 3: His egregious behavior at the party made everyone uncomfortable. (Here, it indicates unacceptable actions.)

A well-known synonym for "egregious" is "outrageous." However, "outrageous" can sometimes imply something is shockingly bad but can also refer to something that is shockingly good, while "egregious" strictly refers to bad actions or situations.

Substitution

Instead of "egregious," you could use:

• "outrageous" (this might feel more emotional and less formal),
• "appalling" (which conveys a strong sense of shock),
• "atrocious" (suggests something morally or ethically wrong).

Using these synonyms can slightly change the tone but they all remain in the negative context of behaviors or actions.