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

With the tips, video, and witness accounts provided so far, detectives are actively working on suspect descriptions and moving toward identifying and locating the individuals responsible for this horrific act. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

The information was gathered under the administration of Joe Biden and the consequences of this horrific shooting and death of Sarah lays directly on the shoulders of Joe Biden and his administration. —ABC News, 30 Nov. 2025

Well, this horrific tragedy could be the result of an individual that quickly mobilized to violence without any ties to foreign terrorism. —CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025

Disney canceled its Hong Kong premiere of Zootopia after dozens of people were killed in horrific high-rise fires in the region. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Nov. 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