1
as in horrible
causing fear
a horrendous explosion shook the building
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of horrendous
In 2017, the Frenchman suffered a horrendous crash while speed skiing.
—
Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The Chicago Blackhawks saw a competitive first period turn into a horrendous second in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The Giants’ secondary is in major need of a jumpstart after a horrendous season on the back end courtesy of poor drafting, unnecessarily frequent staff turnover and lackadaisical play.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
Even without the roadwork, traffic in and out of these canyons can be horrendous.
—Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrendous
Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The Chicago Blackhawks saw a competitive first period turn into a horrendous second in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The Giants’ secondary is in major need of a jumpstart after a horrendous season on the back end courtesy of poor drafting, unnecessarily frequent staff turnover and lackadaisical play.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
Even without the roadwork, traffic in and out of these canyons can be horrendous.
—Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrendous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrendous
Adjective
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After the horrible murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, legions of fans revisited to the director’s films, and this is one of his best.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
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But today, the building is in horrible shape.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Both teams were mostly awful on offense in the first half.—
Greg Beacham,
Twin Cities,
11 Mar. 2026
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Make no mistake about it, Smith was awful last year with the Raiders.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Casap may never change after ‘horrific’ crimes First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Mougey and Jets coach Aaron Glenn will enter a critical offseason following a horrific 3-14 record.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Perhaps the most ugly truth of human spaceflight is that the ISS is old and its days are numbered.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
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Okay, let’s get into the other good, bad, and ugly from episode 2 of Survivor 50, and — shameless plug alert!—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The moment causes Byron, a selfish and braggadocious villain, to have a change of heart, stopping shipments of The Beauty and paying off the families ravaged by its gruesome side effects, like Bella’s.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
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The gruesome discovery would eventually lead authorities to a third woman, in her 80s, killed a few towns over, triggering a manhunt across several states and prompting a two-day closure of schools in Wayne County.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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So many terrible things happen that the reader develops a kind of flinch, bracing for the next calamity whenever there is a brief lull in the misery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
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My actions were selfish; my actions were terrible.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Critics at its first press screening called the film disgusting, accusing it of exploiting both its oblivious subjects and the beloved former first lady.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
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Just last week the president tweeted a vile and disgusting image of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and refuses to apologize.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horrendous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrendous. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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