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

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

Monday at least did not resemble the horrid three-game sweep at Petco Park in May, when the Padres scored once in each game and were outscored 15-3. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025

However, these pale in comparison to her horrid record of decisions as a Supreme Court justice. —Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025

Traders at JPMorgan remain tactically bullish despite the stock market's horrid September performance. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2025

On top of that, Seattle has a horrid offensive line that allowed the second most pressures in the league last season. —Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

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