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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

After a horrible night spent with Easton and his friends, Isabel was in immense pain and had begun to bleed out — a complication from recently giving birth. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 These two rubber bands in our throat are affected by everything from hormones to psychology to a bad day to a horrible night’s sleep to the sniffles or whatever. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 Others are stretched across agonizing stretches of silence while Barrett lets an audience stare into the darkness and imagine every horrible possibility before finally springing the trap. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 As horrible news stories go, few could compare with what happened on a Greek holiday island Monday. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrible

Adjective

For advocates, the law speaks to the horrific circumstances families can endure when a medical issue is misconstrued as abuse.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
This is your big opportunity to pay tribute, to be a uniter, not a divider, on the day recalling the horrific events of a quarter century ago.

— Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of horrific

Adjective

In the supernatural horror film, a young man wishes for Nikki to love him more than anything, but the wish quickly takes a terrifying turn.

— Denis Akbari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Naomi Scott gives one of the best performances of 2024 as a pop star who becomes attached to the smile demon, sending her down a terrifying roller coaster to one of the most memorable horror-movie endings in years.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 1 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

The Menendez brothers, imprisoned 37 years in the gruesome murder of their parents, are getting a second shot at freedom.

— Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Simply to give us the gruesome scene of the kid convulsing to death while leaking blood from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of gruesome

Adjective

There is real hope of a postseason push, with the disgusting state of the American League leaving the door open for any team that dares to play well.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
This whole situation is discriminatory, disgusting, and quite frankly, Orwellian.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026