terrible

ter·ri·ble

adjective \ˈter-ə-bəl, ˈte-rə-\

Definition of TERRIBLE

1

a : exciting extreme alarm or intense fear : terrifying

b : formidable in nature : awesome <a terrible responsibility>

c : difficult <in a terrible bind>

2

: extreme, great <a terrible disappointment>

3

: extremely bad: as

a : strongly repulsive : obnoxious <a terrible smell>

b : notably unattractive or objectionable <terrible behavior>

c : of very poor quality <a terrible movie>

— ter·ri·ble·ness noun

— ter·ri·bly \-blē\ adverb

Examples of TERRIBLE

1. Traffic was held up by a terrible accident.
2. I have a terrible cold.
3. The service at that restaurant is terrible.

Origin of TERRIBLE

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin terribilis, from terrēre to frighten — more at terror

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to TERRIBLE

Synonyms

alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, fearful, terrifying

Antonyms

light, moderate, soft

Related Words

daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms

calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening

Rhymes with TERRIBLE

bearable, shareable, spareable, tearable, wearable