horrendous

adjective

hȯ-ˈren-dəs How to pronounce horrendous (audio)
Definition of horrendousnext
1
as in horrible
causing fear a horrendous explosion shook the building

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awful
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment a horrendous breach of good manners that should not escape censure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent emergency room personnel did not flinch even from the most horrendous injuries

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of horrendous Villa’s slow start is offset by our horrendous recent record at Villa Park, including the painful end of our European dream. — Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 But if the Jets get off to another horrendous start, would Glenn still be the coach? — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 But Gaza, however horrendous, is not the same as the Holocaust. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 Mind you, some parents do hate their children, and the worst ones even give birth for horrendous reasons, like selling their babies for drugs. — Wendy Murphy, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrendous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrendous
  1. horrible
  2. awful
  3. horrific
  4. terrifying
  5. ugly
  6. gruesome
  7. terrible
  8. disgusting
Adjective
  • In most versions of the Greek mythology, Medusa is a beautiful woman that was cursed by the goddess Athena with a head of snakes instead of hair and the horrible ability to turn people to stone with just one look.
    — Lynsey Eidell, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The battle is between that horrible atmosphere and some of the horrific candidates that have been nominated by the Democratic Party.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • Mahomes scrambled to his left and threw an awful interception in the opening half.
    — Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Their wins this year have been against a Patriots team that looked awful in Week 1 – with Drew Lock coming in for Darnold early in the game.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • The battle is between that horrible atmosphere and some of the horrific candidates that have been nominated by the Democratic Party.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The plot is carried out to horrific proportions, but the subjects are so utterly moronic that the gag stops being amusing.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of horrific
Adjective
  • Malerman’s truly terrifying horror novel, 2024’s Incidents Around the House, upon which Other Mommy is based, tells the tale of struggling married couple Ursula and Ross and their young daughter, Bela.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Scottie’s punishing, smothering treatment of Judy, who bears much more than a passing resemblance to Madeleine, borders on truly terrifying to many women watching the film.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • The league and its players’ union are heading for an ugly fight, years in the making.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Cooling plates manage heat during normal operation, while passive barriers and electrical isolation are designed to contain the ugly edge cases that Beta’s testing process intentionally triggers.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Thunder star Jalen Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer and best all-around defender during its title run two seasons ago, fractured a fibula and dislocated his left ankle in a gruesome injury Sunday.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Rescue workers continue to search in the wreckage for survivors and bodies, with witnesses describing a gruesome scene.
    — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • His teams are terrible just before halftime, having been outscored 107-6 in the coach's 24 games.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • If the purpose of buying a suit were merely obtaining clothing, three fittings would be terrible service.
    — Anna van Praagh, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Not only has the gimmick run stale, but her insistence on upping the ante year after year, creating costumes that are increasingly bizarre and disgusting, is a threat to us all.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The actions of their fans, especially their supporter group, was disgusting.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of disgusting

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horny
horrendous
horrendously
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Cite this Entry

“Horrendous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrendous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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