horrid

adjective

hor·​rid ˈhȯr-əd 

ˈhär-

1

: innately offensive or repulsive:

a

: inspiring horror : shocking

horrid living conditions

b

: inspiring disgust or loathing : nasty

a horrid man

c

: extremely bad or unpleasant : horrible

… the tenor bell … gives out a horrid discordant noise.

—Robert Graves

2

archaic : rough, bristling

horridly adverb

horridness noun

Synonyms of horrid

• horrible
• awful
• ugly
• disgusting
• hideous
• sickening
• dreadful
• shocking
• obnoxious
• obscene
• offensive
• nasty

Examples of horrid in a Sentence

People there are living in horrid conditions.

He's a horrid little man.

Recent Examples on the Web

And the bumbling nature of Lesgate, with Jones playing the internal conflicts sharply, comes with succumbing to the horrid nature of what money can bring. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

Despite the horrid ice storm, Karahan found something that drew him in. —Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026

Also not working in the film’s favor is its depiction of Kerr’s wife (Emily Blunt) as the most horrid woman in human history. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026

More automakers than not are taking part in this horrid fad including top-shelf bar-setting luxury marques. —Joel Feder, The Drive, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin horridus "bristly, rough, uncouth, shivering with cold, inspiring dread," from horrēre "to be stiffly erect, bristle (of hair, weapons, plants), shudder, shiver" + -idus, adjective suffix of quality — more at horror entry 1

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for horrid

• florid
• torrid

Kids Definition

horrid

adjective

hor·​rid ˈhȯr-əd 

ˈhär-

1

: inspiring horror : shocking

2

a

: arousing disgust : nasty

a horrid man

b

: horrible sense 2

had horrid manners

horridly adverb

horridness noun