If you say that a person or action is ~, you are emphasizing that they are extremely nasty, cruel, or evil.
The Minister said the bombing was a ~ crime.
ADJ emphasis
If you say that a person or action is ~, you are emphasizing that they are extremely nasty, cruel, or evil.
The Minister said the bombing was a ~ crime.
ADJ emphasis
Collins COBUILD. Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) . 2012