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

Lasko suffered the injury during a horrific collision in a game earlier this week. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Many of these countries are well known for horrific human rights abuses, lack of justice and abysmal detention conditions. — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026

The discovery of the children is reminiscent of past horrific cases of family abuse. — ABC News, 1 July 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