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

This isn't a straight up and down job, which looks terrible, frankly. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Losing your husband at such an early age must have been a terrible shock. — Abigail Van Buren, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

That’s not a terrible thing at this midsummer stage of the race. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

That is not saying that her kids are terrible, lazy, ugly, addicted to TikTok, or caught shoplifting at Brandy Melville. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing terrible

• enfant terrible