1
as in horrible
causing fear
a terrible nightmare that woke me up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
I have a terrible headache
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
that is a terrible movie to let your six-year-old watch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in awful
extremely unsatisfactory
this nonfat ice cream is terrible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in poor
of low quality
manufactures terrible clothes that often tear after a single wash
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terrible
Shannon tells us that her daughter, Sophie, was really into a boy who broke up with her, but that meant Sophie made a surprise trip home to see her mom and stops by this very party where the women support her with their own terrible breakup stories.
—
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Cash bail has never kept our communities safe, because money is a terrible proxy for safety.
—Rebecca Wallace, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Horrible Bosses When three friends — played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis — regroup after a terrible day at their respective jobs, the fed-up employees drunkenly conspire to murder their seriously rotten employers and attempt to follow through.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Because Jay's terrible decision wasn't the only cliffhanger from last season.
—Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrible
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Cash bail has never kept our communities safe, because money is a terrible proxy for safety.
—Rebecca Wallace, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Horrible Bosses When three friends — played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis — regroup after a terrible day at their respective jobs, the fed-up employees drunkenly conspire to murder their seriously rotten employers and attempt to follow through.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Because Jay's terrible decision wasn't the only cliffhanger from last season.
—Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrible
Adjective
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The horrible accident — later determined to be caused by pilot error — remains the deadliest plane crash in Charlotte history.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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But then came a horrible deep-ball attempt intended for Stefon Diggs that Isaiah Pola-Mao intercepted.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Both require intense concentration, in order to be any good, and diligent practice, and both make use of imagination—which in tennis takes the form of anticipation—and creativity.—
Thomas Swick
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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An initial report of a paralyzed kitten being thrown down a staircase led police in Northern Ohio to a home where officers reported finding 13 young children living in horrific conditions.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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But, really, does enough training exist that would prepare anyone for such a horrific emergency?—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But for the rest of us mere mortals, the idea of stepping into an ice bath for 10 minutes a day is awful.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Sep. 2025
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And then these families are in this awful position.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
The Enquirer,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But prorating three years of player profits down to 12 months, as UEFA’s rule does, reduces the immediate efficacy of successful trading in the market, the very strategy that poorer clubs increasingly rely on to climb the ladder.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Like most extended car warranty providers, CarShield excludes pre-existing conditions that existed before your warranty took effect, as well as damage resulting from poor maintenance, neglect or intentional abuse.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The case is interrupted as Lorraine is heavily pregnant with Judy and is induced into giving birth after a terrifying vision.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The series centers around a deep-space research vessel crash-lands on Earth, bringing with it mysterious and terrifying life forms, such as the Xenomorph.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Zack recently completed five weeks of intensive training with his handler, Deputy Trisha List.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Measles, for example, was eliminated in the US in 2000 through intensive vaccination.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Gonzalez-Rasalas was charged with murder, desecrating a body and auto theft in a gruesome 2023 Easter Sunday homicide.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Sep. 2025
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At the time, and in the next nearly two years, the Kansas City region also experienced the gruesome abuse and neglect deaths of three children ages 4 to 6, including one boy who fell from a 17th floor apartment window in November 2023.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrible. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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