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

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

Grier could choose to navigate the deadline by parting with some periphery pieces — or even one or two that the Sharks rely on a great deal — but not dramatically subtracting from a group that played its way into playoff contention after a horrid start to the 2025-26 season. —Eric Stephens, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026

Their windows and their kitchens are horrid. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 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