HORRIBLE Synonyms: 273 Similar and Opposite Words

horrible 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhȯr-ə-bəl

Definition of horrible

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent a horrible car accident that left eyewitnesses in a state of shock

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in terrifying

causing fear a horrible scream that made shivers go up and down our spines

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in awful

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment I can never forgive her for the horrible way she treated me

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as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory I'm never going back to that restaurant; the service was horrible

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

horrible

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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 horrible

Adjective

Turkish football is a chaotic, infuriating, sometimes horrible but always entertaining place. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The defense says their client had no control over her fatal actions despite the clear planning of the horrible event. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026 The entire attack lasted less than a minute, but the bear’s savagery resulted in horrible wounds to McCoy. — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026 Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrible

Adjective

Thompson, then 23, and Rocco James Surace, then 30, beat Ivester with chains, burned her with cigarettes and assaulted her with a chair leg during the horrific ordeal inside the Sunny Isles Motel, 16375 Biscayne Blvd.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
Indications of this are when Covid starts to overwhelm the hospital and Maya is in the center of this horrific pandemic.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of horrific

Adjective

He’s crafted a propulsive, simultaneously terrifying and hilarious thrill ride that showcases both his cinematic chops and perverse sense of humor.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Compounding fears was a terrifying warning from a former AI executive last week that AI could end civilization within a decade and the tech companies aren’t doing enough about it.

— S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Noun

But times have changed since the days when Wasim and Waqar Younis struck terror into the hearts of opposition lineups with the ferocity of their bowling, or Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq made hay with the bat.

— James Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
State standards for high school world history classes also suggest discussing 9/11 and the war on terror.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of terror

Adjective

On a more altruistic front, Leighton also stands ready to end a gruesome pandemic in another world, turning up with vaccines and medications like a multidimensional DoorDash service.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Where does that leave the gruesome project that binds them together?

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of gruesome

Adjective

The subjects bring insightful detail of frightening practices, and the filmmaking helps to underline the thematic commentary of the disconnect between levels of humanity.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Como are playing some slick football under Cesc Fabregas, and while 21-year-old Nico Paz is still the shining star at the heart of every attack, Baturina has also clicked into a frightening gear.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026