HORRIBLE Synonyms: 273 Similar and Opposite Words

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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

Robert Gasser could be horrible next season after his dominance in this year's playoffs. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026 Russia's horrible invasion and now four-year war on Ukraine added gasoline to a fire that began burning with bad policy decisions years ago. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2026 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, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrible

Adjective

First, Biden’s open borders let this monster into our country, then sanctuary politicians in New York refused to hand him over to ICE and released him after a previous arrest three months before this horrific crime.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Travis Barker has an unfortunate connection to the horrific plane crash in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday that killed all nine people on board — two crew and seven passengers.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of horrific

Adjective

Robertson and Sepulveda play two friends who travel to a remote Italian village to settle a family estate, where their trip spirals into a deadly game of deception at the hands of a charming hunter with a terrifying secret (Armitage).

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
In the last two minutes of the flight, Filgueiras shifted from calmly communicating with air traffic controllers to calling out terrifying updates as the plane plummeted.

— Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

In Obsession’s most horrifying sequence, the audience senses something awful is about to unfold several beats before the frenzy of blunt-force head trauma actually takes place on screen.

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
As Philip awaits trial at home, Lucy processes the shock, too smart to believe this is all some awful misunderstanding.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

The bat lay on its back, soggy and wretched, here in the waning hours of this terrible day.

— Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
An ugly fight between teammates during training camp was a terrible start to a season that officially began with a loss against North Carolina, a game in Dublin that TCU essentially sold, against the desires of Dykes.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of terrible

Noun

Stewart gave the character so much humanity, life, and fear, the terror of a life wasted in pursuit of wealth to the abandonment of all else.

— Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026
Beetz is phenomenal as a young woman rocked by her own broken family history, willing to put herself in harm’s way to stop Jurek’s terror.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of terror

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

Everyone starts tasting the varied, apparently disgusting, bottles.

— Alice Burton, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
The third branch of government did its job, and that should be a welcome sight for all Americans given the disgusting and dangerous attacks on our democracy by the federal government.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026