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horrible
[ hawr-uh-buhl, hor- ]
adjective
- causing or tending to cause horror; shockingly dreadful:
a horrible sight.
Synonyms: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Antonyms:
- extremely unpleasant; deplorable; disgusting:
horrible living conditions.
horrible
/ ˈɒəə /
adjective
- causing horror; dreadful
- disagreeable; unpleasant
- informal.cruel or unkind
Derived Forms
- ˈǰԱ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ǰ۾··Ա noun
- ǰ۾· adverb
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of horrible1
Example Sentences
"It's really horrible but these people who are speculating, they didn't go to the trial, they don't know the facts and it has been really difficult."
The one is not as horrible a post as it used to be since Churchill Downs built a 20-horse gate, meaning the one horse isn’t right against the rail.
In his landmark broadcast he included the words: "This day at Belsen was the most horrible of my life."
The largest parties are both likely to have a horrible time of it.
Wallace revealed that his mother recently died, adding that it was "terribly sad" that she had spent the last few days of her life reading "horrible things" about him.
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Related Words
More About Horrible
doeshorrible mean?
Horrible is popularly used to mean extremely bad—awful, dreadful, or horrendous.
When it’s used to describe a person, it often means extremely disagreeable or cruel.
Much less commonly, it can mean literally causing horror—horrifying or horrific.
Example: Everyone seems to like that restaurant, but I had a horrible experience there—bad food and even worse service.
Where doeshorrible come from?
The first records of the word horrible come from around 1300. It comes from the Latin horribilis, which ultimately derives from the Latin verb ǰŧ, meaning “to tremble” or “to bristle with fear” (a reference to one’s hair standing on end due to extreme fear). ǰŧ is also the basis of the word horror and the related words horrific, horrifying, and horrid.
Horrible is most popularly used to simply mean “really bad,” in much the same way that terrible and awful are often used, as in I had a horrible time at that party—no one would talk to me! Sometimes, though, horrible means truly horrific or horrifying, as in In my 30 years on the job, I’ve never seen a crime scene more horrible than this. Real-life horror-like violence can be described as horrible, but you wouldn’t call a horror movie horrible to mean it was really scary—you’d probably call it horrifying or terrifying. If it was really stupid and poorly made, though, then you could call it horrible. (Unless it was so bad that it was good, in which case you might call it terrific!)
Did you know ... ?
are some other forms related to horrible?
- horribly (adverb)
- horribleness (noun)
are some synonyms for horrible?
are some words that share a root or word element with horrible?
are some words that often get used in discussing horrible?
How ishorrible used in real life?
The word horrible is always negative, but it’s commonly used in both serious and not-so-serious contexts.
"It's the cold fish dying in your stomach feeling. You try to forget about it, but as soon as you do, the fish starts flopping around under your heart and reminds you that something truly horrible is happening."
― Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being (2013)
— Is it quotable? (@isitquotable)
Nothing annoys me more than when a book I love becomes a movie and it’s horrible 😒
— samantha kate (@sammyvanriper)
This horrible weather is making me want to stay in my pjs & hide away all day 🌚🌚
— laur (@LaurynBeck)
Try usinghorrible!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of horrible?
A. awful
B. terrible
C. lousy
D. delightful
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