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

The allegations were horrific, even for a rape case, and the prosecution’s evidence appeared to be strong. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2025

Rahmanullah Lakanwal should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for carrying out this horrific attack. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025

Despite the horrific nature of his injury, things could not have worked out better for the second-year signal caller. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Geeta Bakshi, a former CIA officer who served in Afghanistan, said that her former Afghan colleagues are distraught that one of their countrymen is accused of having attacked Americans and that the entire community of Afghan veterans could be tarnished by the shooter’s horrific actions. —Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 4 Dec. 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