1
as in horrible
causing fear
a terrible nightmare that woke me up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
I have a terrible headache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
that is a terrible movie to let your six-year-old watch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in awful
extremely unsatisfactory
this nonfat ice cream is terrible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in poor
of low quality
manufactures terrible clothes that often tear after a single wash
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 terrible
And not as terrible for Chicago, where JetBlue is not a significant player.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
That seemed obvious; pancreatic survival rates are terrible.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 14 Apr. 2026
One of the most awesome/terrible/terribly awesome things about The Fight For Lord Stanley is that underdogs can bite and, unlike the NBA bracket, seeding can feel like just a number.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
That was such a terrible shock and really upsetting, horrifying, and scary.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrible
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
That seemed obvious; pancreatic survival rates are terrible.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 14 Apr. 2026
One of the most awesome/terrible/terribly awesome things about The Fight For Lord Stanley is that underdogs can bite and, unlike the NBA bracket, seeding can feel like just a number.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
That was such a terrible shock and really upsetting, horrifying, and scary.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrible
Adjective
-
In the case of this April 1, Atlanta just experienced a horrible and tragic Wednesday in traffic.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Your cabdriver is taking you on a horrible route.—
Zach Schiffman,
Curbed,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
No injuries were reported in the blaze and no structures were threatened, despite an extensive list of evacuation orders and warnings that were issued at the fire's most intense point.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Combining creatine with electrolytes may improve hydration and exercise performance, especially during intense or prolonged workouts.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The horrific Los Angeles wildfires caused over $75 billion in insured losses and claimed the lives of 31 Californians.—
Scott Wiener,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The horrific discovery spurred a wider search on Long Island over the following year – nearly a dozen bodies were found in all – and raised fears of a serial killer on the loose.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The par 3 celebrity caddie idea is awful.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2026
-
That's going to be awful difficult!—
Ashley Velie,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These closures reflect various factors, including poor investment returns, a lack of government support for refinery upgrades and higher carbon and energy costs.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
After McCandless and her council colleagues approved the sweeping tax breaks, King consistently spoke on how its planning process exemplified poor communication from the city, saying that current leaders should have advocated for a better deal for Independence.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of his acts are dangerous or terrifying.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
In 1972, Ann-Margret fell 22 feet from a stage during a performance — a terrifying moment that could have ended her career.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Residents returning to southern villages and Beirut suburbs find entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, with buildings flattened and infrastructure destroyed by weeks of intensive strikes.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
One such system required only 90 million Toffoli gates, a resource-intensive operation that’s currently a prohibitively major challenge to deliver.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What follows is a crescendo of bloody madness, including a gruesome toenail cutting scene that shouldn’t be viewed while eating, a grandma being eaten alive by a pack of coyotes and a truly bonkers wake that erupts into laugh-out-loud violence thanks to a pair of dentures.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Since then, The Pitt has blown up in an unlikely way for any cultural object in the 2020s, much less a gruesome medical drama.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrible. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
