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
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
Somehow, the upper hand never lingers long with Sally and Barnaby, drolly played by Gunning and Corden as a conniving Tweedledee and Tweedledum, loyal to no one and convinced their venality is justified by their father’s history of terrible parenting.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Though she was monitored by cameras and armed guards, Sara tried in her own way to resist the terrible labor that she’d been forced into.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Stadiums must be domed for the simple reason that the Super Bowl occurring in February, which could be terrible for many of the states that experience rain, snow, and more undesirable weather for playing football.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
One cannot help but feel that casting Leni Riefenstahl in a spectacle on live TV was about giving the viewing public respite from a terrible burden of national shame by finding someone to take the blame for it.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrible
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David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Though she was monitored by cameras and armed guards, Sara tried in her own way to resist the terrible labor that she’d been forced into.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Stadiums must be domed for the simple reason that the Super Bowl occurring in February, which could be terrible for many of the states that experience rain, snow, and more undesirable weather for playing football.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
One cannot help but feel that casting Leni Riefenstahl in a spectacle on live TV was about giving the viewing public respite from a terrible burden of national shame by finding someone to take the blame for it.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrible
Cite this Entry
“Terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrible. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terrible
adjective
ter·ri·ble
ˈter-ə-bəl
2
a
: very great in degree
made a terrible mess
a terrible cold
b
: very bad in quality
terrible music
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