Synonyms of terrible

terrible

adjective

ˈter-ə-bəl 

1

as in horrible

causing fear

a terrible nightmare that woke me up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrible
• terrifying
• formidable
• frightening
• scary
• dread
• intimidating
• dreadful
• alarming
• shocking
• fearful
• horrifying
• horrendous
• startling
• ghastly
• frightful
• eerie
• dire
• direful
• creepy
• gruesome
• fearsome
• trying
• forbidding
• troubling
• disturbing
• threatening
• redoubtable
• spine-chilling
• discouraging
• hideous
• weird
• hair-raising
• unnerving
• daunting
• awful
• dismaying
• disconcerting
• demoralizing
• perturbing
• appalling
• disquieting
• horrid
• distressing
• nightmarish
• atrocious
• grisly
• monstrous
• macabre
• bone-chilling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• calming
• inviting
• consoling
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• nonthreatening
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

2

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect

I have a terrible headache

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intense
• intensive
• fierce
• ferocious
• deep
• furious
• heavy
• dreadful
• violent
• profound
• vicious
• acute
• ghastly
• fearful
• frightful
• explosive
• excruciating
• exquisite
• fearsome
• blistering
• hard
• vehement
• keen
• heavy-duty
• hellacious
• almighty
• intensified
• harsh
• aggravated
• severe
• heightened
• concentrated
• enhanced
• magnified
• stressed
• exhaustive
• thorough
• deepened
• accentuated
• emphasized
• rigorous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weak
• light
• moderate
• soft
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• qualified
• decreased
• eased
• diminished
• moderated
• reduced
• toned (down)
• subdued
• lightened
• lessened
• alleviated
• abated

3

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent

that is a terrible movie to let your six-year-old watch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrific
• gruesome
• horrible
• shocking
• nightmare
• awful
• terrific
• dreadful
• frightening
• horrifying
• hideous
• terrifying
• appalling
• horrid
• scary
• horrendous
• nightmarish
• atrocious
• ghastly
• grisly
• sickening
• frightful
• monstrous
• disgusting
• macabre
• lurid
• ugly
• fearful
• dire
• alarming
• formidable
• obscene
• direful
• offensive
• loathsome
• deplorable
• revolting
• repulsive
• grotesque
• abominable
• disagreeable
• heinous
• abhorrent
• unspeakable
• evil
• obnoxious
• repugnant
• fearsome
• odious
• intimidating
• forbidding
• gut-wrenching
• vile
• distasteful
• redoubtable
• noxious
• nauseating
• bloodcurdling
• heart-stopping
• hair-raising
• unsightly
• noisome
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• delightful
• attractive
• delicious
• welcome
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• appealing
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• enticing
• delectable
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

4

as in awful

extremely unsatisfactory

this nonfat ice cream is terrible

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrible
• awful
• poor
• bad
• atrocious
• abysmal
• dismal
• lousy
• rotten
• wretched
• execrable
• sucky
• defective
• flawed
• inadequate
• shameful
• substandard
• miserable
• insufficient
• deficient
• inferior
• punk
• mediocre
• contemptible
• useless
• worthless
• lacking
• wanting
• faulty
• off
• reprehensible
• abominable
• low-grade
• odious
• damnable
• valueless
• vile
• bum
• fiendish
• second-rate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvelous
• excellent
• exceptional
• superior
• prime
• adequate
• choice
• first-class
• sufficient
• premium
• bitchin'
• acceptable
• satisfactory
• first-rate

5

as in poor

of low quality

manufactures terrible clothes that often tear after a single wash

Synonyms & Similar Words

• poor
• bad
• cheap
• inferior
• rotten
• common
• coarse
• wretched
• miserable
• worthless
• mediocre
• useless
• shoddy
• lousy
• crappy
• execrable
• rubbishy
• bum
• cheesy
• low-grade
• trashy
• junky
• low-rent
• second-rate
• sleazy
• counterfeit
• fake
• cheapjack
• trumpery
• gimcrack
• lackluster
• schlock
• cut-rate
• bargain-basement
• indifferent
• el cheapo
• valueless
• tawdry
• gaudy
• second-class
• meretricious
• shabby
• garish
• showy
• kitschy
• flashy
• tacky
• glitzy
• ostentatious
• kitsch
• seedy
• swank
• splashy
• sham
• phony
• brummagem
• ultracheap
• supercheap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• good
• excellent
• fine
• superior
• first-class
• high-grade
• elegant
• handsome
• first-rate
• top-notch
• tasteful
• polished
• refined
• handcrafted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of terrible

Those patterns, coupled with him having a terrible açaí bowl there, ignited his business idea. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026

Ulreich said the Redhawks (1-1) had a terrible week of practice, but things jelled from the start against the Porters (0-2). — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

Others are likely to follow in his footsteps, because docs about the worst day of someone’s life and the terrible things people do to one another is a genre of entertainment that audiences can’t get enough of. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Mississippi State took both Texas and Tennessee — two top-25 teams — to overtime, and were a terrible interception in field goal range away from beating Florida in The Swamp. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing terrible

• enfant terrible