Egregious

It makes me think of egrets, the birds. Egrets being egregious.

What do you have against egrets SueDonim ?

Egregious derives from the Latin word egregius meaning "distinguished" or "eminent." In its earliest English uses, ”egregious ” was a compliment to someone who had a remarkably good quality that placed him or her eminently above others
But now alas it seems to mean outstanding, but not in a good way.

That's interesting, Maw. Now it seems to mean 'shocking'. I keep hearing it so has the word become flavour of the month?

I think it is more likely that it reflects much of the behaviour of our times, as you suggested in your original post!

There were loads of egrets where we lived in Nigeria, MawB and they foraged amongst the rubbish and carried diseases. ?. I mostly felt sorry for them though, as they looked so dirty, unlike their country cousins who were pristine white.