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

• 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

Reading out the verdict, Korner recounted the horrific crimes committed by Abd–Al-Rahman, including gang rapes, abuse, and mass killings. —Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025

This dovetails with a modern-day strand about college kids getting abducted in the desert and subjected to horrific experiments. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025

Shawn Ayers lost his only sibling Amy that horrific night in Austin in 1991. —Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025

Each movie centered on a character who has a premonition of a horrific and deadly event. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025

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