In English vocabulary, which option is nearest in meaning to the adjective EGREGIOUS, used for something outstandingly and shockingly bad?

Introduction / Context:
Vocabulary questions often test your understanding of less common adjectives that appear in formal writing, exams and editorials. The word egregious is one such term. It describes something that is not just bad but extremely or shockingly bad. This question asks you to choose the option that comes closest in meaning to this word.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The target word is EGREGIOUS, an English adjective.
• It usually describes mistakes, offences or behaviour.
• The options include words with different shades of meaning.
• We assume the context of formal or exam oriented English usage.

Concept / Approach:
Egregious typically means outstandingly bad, flagrant or shockingly wrong. It is used for serious errors, violations or conduct that stands out in a very negative way. Among the choices, atrocious has a similar sense of extremely bad, horrible or appalling. The other options either suggest something ordinary or only mildly negative, so atrocious is the nearest match in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that egregious is used in phrases such as egregious error, egregious misconduct or egregious violation. Step 2: Understand that in all such phrases, the idea is of something extremely serious and unacceptable. Step 3: Look at the options and compare their meanings: common means ordinary, social relates to society, plain means simple and careless means not paying attention. Atrocious, however, directly suggests extremely bad or horrifying. Step 4: Conclude that atrocious is the nearest synonym among the given choices.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by checking example sentences in your mind. If you say an atrocious crime or an atrocious act, it clearly conveys great severity. Replacing egregious with atrocious in many editorial style sentences usually preserves the meaning. On the other hand, using common or plain in place of egregious completely changes the sense, showing that they do not match the original tone.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Common: Means ordinary, usual or widespread. It does not convey the strong negative intensity that egregious carries.
• Social: Relates to society or interaction between people and has no built in sense of good or bad.
• Plain: Means simple, clear or not decorated. It is neutral and does not mean extremely bad.
• Careless: Suggests lack of attention, which can be negative but is often used for minor mistakes rather than shocking wrongdoing.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes misinterpret egregious as merely noticeable or uncommon and then look for a word like plain or common by mistake. Another issue is confusing it with gregarious, which is completely different and means sociable. To avoid these errors, focus on context: if the word appears with error, violation or misconduct, egregious almost always intensifies the negativity, aligning best with atrocious.

Final Answer:
The option nearest in meaning to EGREGIOUS is atrocious, which also describes something extremely and shockingly bad.