outrageous
gb/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs/ us/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs/
B1
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
extremely shocking and morally wrong
Very bad and unfair in a way that makes people feel angry or shocked.
Usage pattern:
outrageous [decision/behavior/abuse/injustice]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "outrageous" with "outraged". "Outrageous" describes something that causes anger or shock (an outrageous decision), while "outraged" describes how a person feels (people were outraged). Learners may also think it only means "very big"; in this sense it must include strong moral disapproval.
Synonyms
shocking (Slightly weaker and more general; does not always include the idea of being morally wrong or unfair.)
|
disgraceful (Stresses that something is shameful and unacceptable, often with a moral tone similar to "outrageous" but slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
acceptable (Describes something that most people think is fine or reasonable, the opposite of causing outrage.)
|
fair (Emphasizes that something is just and reasonable, the opposite of being grossly unjust or outrageous.)
Collocations
outrageous behavior
|outrageous injustice
|outrageous abuse
|outrageous decision
|outrageous violation
|outrageous insult
Themes
emotions
|society
|law
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company’s treatment of its workers is absolutely outrageous.
- It’s outrageous that victims had to wait years for compensation.
- They called the law an outrageous attack on basic rights.
- Many people felt the light sentence was outrageous and demanded an appeal.
- Such outrageous behavior from an elected official cannot be ignored.
Learner examples
- The price rise was outrageous and made many people angry.
- It is outrageous that the hospital closed with no warning.
- The judge made an outrageous decision, and the public was upset.
- They wrote a letter to complain about the outrageous rules.
- The students thought the new policy was outrageous and unfair.
adjective
B2
property
2
extremely bold and shocking, often playful
Very strong, strange, or wild in a way that surprises people, often in a fun or funny way.
Usage pattern:
outrageous [outfit/joke/idea/behavior]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes assume "outrageous" is always negative. In this sense, it can be partly positive or playful, especially with clothes, jokes, or parties. Context and tone (serious vs joking) show whether it is being used in a critical or admiring way.
Synonyms
outrageous (Often carries both shock and amusement; can be slightly positive or admiring in this sense.)
|
ridiculous (Can be similar, but more often negative or critical, suggesting something is silly or makes no sense.)
|
wild (Suggests something is very free, uncontrolled, or extreme, but without always implying shock.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Describes something normal and not surprising, the opposite of bold and shocking.)
|
conservative (Describes style or behavior that is careful and not extreme, the opposite of outrageous in fashion or actions.)
Collocations
outrageous outfit
|outrageous costume
|outrageous joke
|outrageous behavior
|outrageous idea
|outrageous sense of humor
Themes
daily life
|entertainment
|appearance
|humor
|communication
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She showed up in an outrageous pink feathered jacket.
- The comedian is famous for his outrageous jokes.
- They came up with an outrageous plan to turn the office into a jungle for a day.
- His haircut was so outrageous that everyone on the street stared.
- Her performance was outrageous, but the audience loved every minute of it.
Learner examples
- He wore an outrageous hat with bright colors.
- The movie is full of outrageous characters and crazy events.
- She told an outrageous story that made everyone laugh.
- They had an outrageous party that lasted all night.
- His shoes are outrageous, but they look fun.
adjective
B1
property
3
extremely high and unreasonable (price, cost)
Very, very high in a way that is not fair or not normal, especially about money or prices.
Usage pattern:
outrageous [price/fee/rent/amount]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense only means "very expensive". It also includes the idea that the amount is not fair or not reasonable. A price can be high but not outrageous if it matches the quality or market value.
Synonyms
exorbitant (More formal; commonly used for prices and costs that are much too high.)
|
astronomical (Informal and emphatic; focuses on very large size or cost, sometimes without the moral judgment of "outrageous".)
Antonyms
reasonable (Describes a price or amount that is fair and not too high.)
|
affordable (Stresses that the price is low enough for people to pay, the opposite of extremely expensive and unfair.)
Collocations
outrageous prices
|outrageous fee
|outrageous rent
|outrageous demand
|outrageous amount
|outrageous costs
Themes
business
|money
|daily life
|economy
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The hotel charges an outrageous fee for parking.
- We decided not to buy the house because the rent was outrageous.
- They asked an outrageous amount of money for a simple repair.
- Ticket prices for the concert are simply outrageous.
- Consumers are angry about the outrageous costs of basic medicines.
Learner examples
- The restaurant had outrageous prices, so we left.
- He paid an outrageous amount of money for that watch.
- The rent here is outrageous for such a small room.
- They charge an outrageous fee to change your ticket.
- Many people think the price of gas is outrageous.
Grammar
Dictionary form
outrageous
IPA
GB/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs/
US/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs/
Syllables & stress
out - rageous (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (rageous)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: outrageous
Word family
Core family
outrage
noun B2
outrageously
adverb
Advanced or less common
outrageousness
noun
Expressions
an outrageous amount of
1/ən aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs əmˈaʊnt əv/
fixed phrase
extremely large and unreasonable quantity
Used before a noun to say that the quantity is much too big and not reasonable.
Examples
- They spend an outrageous amount of money on advertising.
- He eats an outrageous amount of sugar every day.
- The project required an outrageous amount of time and effort.
it’s outrageous that
1/ˈɪts aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
introducing a complaint about unfairness
Used before a clause to say that a situation is very bad and unfair and makes you angry.
Examples
- It’s outrageous that students have to pay so much for textbooks.
- It’s outrageous that they still haven’t fixed the problem.
- It’s outrageous that people working full time can’t afford rent.
nothing short of outrageous
1/nˈʌθɪŋ ʃˈɔɹt əv aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs/
fixed phrase
emphasizing complete outrageousness
Used to say very strongly that something is totally outrageous, with no softer description.
Examples
- The way they treated her was nothing short of outrageous.
- Charging that much for water is nothing short of outrageous.
- Their lack of action is nothing short of outrageous.
outrageous behavior
1/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs bɪhˈeɪvjɚ/
fixed phrase
extremely shocking or unacceptable actions
Behavior that is so bad or shocking that most people think it is not acceptable.
Examples
- The teacher was fired for outrageous behavior in the classroom.
- Neighbors complained for months about his outrageous behavior at night.
- Such outrageous behavior will not be tolerated in this office.
outrageous claim
1/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs klˈeɪm/
fixed phrase
extremely shocking or unbelievable statement
A statement that is very hard to believe and seems wrong or crazy.
Examples
- He made the outrageous claim that he had never told a lie.
- The article makes several outrageous claims without any evidence.
- Such an outrageous claim needs serious proof.
outrageous prices
1/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs pɹˈaɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
extremely high and unfair prices
Prices that are much too high and not fair or normal.
Examples
- Tourists complained about the outrageous prices in the city center.
- People are angry about the outrageous prices of concert tickets.
- We stopped going there because of their outrageous prices.
outrageous sense of humor
1/aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs sˈɛns əv hjˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
very bold and shocking style of humor
A way of joking that is very strong and shocking, but often funny to many people.
Examples
- She’s known for her outrageous sense of humor.
- His outrageous sense of humor isn’t for everyone.
- The show’s outrageous sense of humor made it a hit with young audiences.
that’s outrageous
1/ðˈæts aʊtɹˈeɪd͡ʒəs/
fixed phrase
strong reaction to shocking news
Used to show strong anger or surprise when you hear something very unfair or shocking.
Examples
- "They doubled the rent overnight." – "That’s outrageous!"
- "They lost her medical records." – "That’s outrageous."
- When he heard about the decision, he just said, "That’s outrageous," and walked out.