terrible
adjective
ter·ri·ble
ˈter-ə-bəl 
ˈte-rə-
1
: extremely bad: such as
a
: notably unattractive or objectionable
terrible behavior
b
: of very poor quality
a terrible movie
c
: strongly repulsive : obnoxious
a terrible smell
2
a
: difficult
in a terrible bind
b
: formidable in nature : awesome
a terrible responsibility
c
: exciting extreme alarm or intense fear : terrifying
terribleness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of terrible in a Sentence
Traffic was held up by a terrible accident.
I have a terrible cold.
The service at that restaurant is terrible.
Recent Examples on the Web
The photograph, taken by Ukraine’s state emergency services, has circulated widely in Ukraine — and has been held up as a tragic symbol of the terrible toll exacted on civilians by Russia’s war.
—
Constant Méheut Oksana Parafeniuk, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The terrible irony is that many of those landscapes are increasingly being torn apart by bigger, hotter wildfires and other weather disasters made worse by global warming, and overwhelmed by air pollution from gasoline vehicles on our freeways.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
While Israeli society is marred by a combustible mix of angry and divided citizens, and despite his terrible poll ratings, Netanyahu keeps hanging onto power by his fingernails.
—Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
Yet equally terrible may be the crisis facing Ethiopia today.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The percentage of kids reading at grade level in this country is 43%, which is terrible.
—Laura Trujillo, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
For now, the Dolphins aren’t in terrible shape at the position.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Ohtani wasn’t terrible offensively going into Wednesday night.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 4 Apr. 2024
Also, don’t forget to note other migraine triggers—say, blaring music or terrible lighting situations, like pulsing strobes and flickering fluorescent bulbs.
—Erica Sweeney, SELF, 3 Apr. 2024
Constant Méheut Oksana Parafeniuk, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The terrible irony is that many of those landscapes are increasingly being torn apart by bigger, hotter wildfires and other weather disasters made worse by global warming, and overwhelmed by air pollution from gasoline vehicles on our freeways.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
While Israeli society is marred by a combustible mix of angry and divided citizens, and despite his terrible poll ratings, Netanyahu keeps hanging onto power by his fingernails.
—Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
Yet equally terrible may be the crisis facing Ethiopia today.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The percentage of kids reading at grade level in this country is 43%, which is terrible.
—Laura Trujillo, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
For now, the Dolphins aren’t in terrible shape at the position.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Ohtani wasn’t terrible offensively going into Wednesday night.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 4 Apr. 2024
Also, don’t forget to note other migraine triggers—say, blaring music or terrible lighting situations, like pulsing strobes and flickering fluorescent bulbs.
—Erica Sweeney, SELF, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'terrible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near terrible
Cite this Entry
“Terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrible. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terrible
adjective
ter·ri·ble
ˈter-ə-bəl
2
a
: very great in degree
made a terrible mess of things
a terrible cold
b
: very bad in quality
terrible music
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