horrific

adjective

hȯ-ˈri-fik How to pronounce horrific (audio)
Definition of horrificnext
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 horrific This is one year since that horrific shooting at CDC headquarters. — CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 Police released Friday new surveillance video of the mass shooting at an In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho, showing the clearest account yet of the horrific scene that unfolded last weekend. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 Bettors will make or lose money based on the success or failure of a clinical trial, a situation Pederson views as horrific. — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026 Civilian death and destruction, however horrific, do not establish genocide. — Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrific
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrific
  1. gruesome
  2. shocking
  3. horrible
  4. terrible
  5. nightmare
  6. horrifying
  7. frightening
Adjective
  • In a two-story warehouse on the back lot, just a few blocks away from the streets of Tumbleton, Mason gives me a tour of his prosthetics operation, which is currently abuzz with workers assembling gruesome wounds and other injuries.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The utter carnage that follows brings major developments for all the main characters still on the chessboard — and many gruesome deaths by dragon fire, boiling oil, spikes and even catapults.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • Lindsay Hubbard, one of the stars of Bravo’s Summer House, was doing an on-camera interview for a different reality show when shocking news broke that two of her Summer House castmates had gotten together.
    — The Deadline Team, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Wells, 39, laid his gloves down in the Octagon after the shocking victory.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • After years of seeing enough photos of fabulous wealth and horrible tragedy, these types of images cease to shock us.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But the horrible jobs data suggests the central bank may have to think about weakening consumer spending as well.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • That Crowley came from behind to win was a testament to Evers’ grit and determination to keep the nomination from Hong, whom Evers said was unlikely to win in November, and to how terrible of a campaigner Hong turned out to be in the home stretch.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Although the Constitution requires congressional involvement in war-making, Trump like Nixon disdained that mandate with terrible consequences.
    — Elizabeth Holtzman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • This is the nightmare scenario behind the Kessler syndrome, a cascading chain of collisions that could render entire orbital pathways unusable.
    — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But the 22-year-old is not alone in having a nightmare individual performance on a high-profile sporting stage.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of nightmare
Adjective
  • No franchise on this list is more indebted to a single auteur (Wes Craven) and a single actor (Robert Englund), who turned the saga of Freddy Krueger into something uniquely horrifying.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The byproduct of eating the dessert is a little more horrifying than your typical childhood sugar rush.
    — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of horrifying
Adjective
  • And what is perhaps most frightening, in those despondent moments that inevitably follow the exhilarating rush, is the realization that this enveloping abyss retains the imprint of our actions.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The video quickly sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with many viewers expressing relief that the ride's safety restraints appeared to do their job despite the frightening ordeal.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightening

Browse Nearby Words

horridness
horrific
horrifically
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Cite this Entry

“Horrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrific. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of horrific for Spanish Speakers

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