horrific

adjective

hor·​rif·​ic hȯ-ˈri-fik 

hä-

: having the power to horrify

a horrific account of the tragedy

horrifically

hȯ-ˈri-fi-k(ə-)lē 

hä-

adverb

Synonyms of horrific

• gruesome
• shocking
• horrible
• terrible
• nightmare
• horrifying
• frightening

Examples of horrific in a Sentence

horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously

Recent Examples on the Web

What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence. —Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026

First of all, the suffering of the Iranian people has been horrific in the context of this unnecessary conflict. —ABC News, 21 June 2026

For this particular one, there was the cat stuff, but also there was the Monica dating stuff, which is very much based on my horrific experiences, sorry to say. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 June 2026

The horrific legacy of slavery, which produced inequities and exclusion, will not be uprooted with resolutions and holidays. —Marcus Anthony Hunter, Time, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Latin; French horrifique, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin horrificus "inspiring awe or dread, frightening," from horrēre "to be stiffly erect, bristle, shudder, shiver" + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic — more at horror entry 1

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for horrific

• pacific
• prolific
• salvific
• specific
• terrific
• calorific
• conspecific
• hieroglyphic
• honorific
• nonspecific
• scientific
• soporific