terrific

adjective

ter·​rif·​ic tə-ˈri-fik 

1

: unusually fine : magnificent

terrific weather

2

: extraordinary

terrific speed

3

a

: exciting or fit to excite fear or awe

a terrific thunderstorm

b

: very bad : frightful

terrifically

tə-ˈri-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of terrific in a Sentence

She's given me some terrific ideas.

Your test scores were terrific.

They did a terrific job painting the house.

I had a terrific time.

I've recovered completely. In fact, I feel terrific.

We were hit by a terrific snowstorm last week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Filled with bullets, consuming fires and terrific actors like Kirsten Dunst running for cover, the movie is a what-if nightmare stoked by memories of Jan. 6. —Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Well, the new Vampire Weekend, like all Vampire Weekend albums, is terrific and this song is one of my early favorites (stay for the 20-second outro). —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

Harrison was otherwise terrific over six sparkling frames. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

The solar eclipse, one of the biggest astronomical events of the century, will occur April 8, and Cincinnati will have a terrific seat. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2024

But as Fortune’s Shawn Tully has chronicled in his terrific recent reporting on Boeing, the aircraft-maker’s problems arguably run deeper than anything Calhoun could have fixed—and their roots predate his arrival by decades. —Matthew Heimer, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024

Nelson had 24 & was terrific on offense / defense . —Ben Morse, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024

That terrific brewery is no more, but the terrific former owner — Jeff Bagby — still brews here. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024

Jaden Bradley is back and doing great, and Justin Olson is just terrific. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin terrificus, from terrēre to frighten

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Kids Definition

terrific

adjective

ter·​rif·​ic tə-ˈrif-ik 

1

: causing terror : terrible

terrific destruction

2

: very great in degree : extraordinary

a car going at terrific speed

3

: unusually good

makes terrific chili

terrifically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb