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
• direful
• dire
• creepy
• gruesome
• fearsome
• trying
• forbidding
• troubling
• eery
• disturbing
• threatening
• redoubtable
• spine-chilling
• discouraging
• hideous
• weird
• hair-raising
• unnerving
• daunting
• dismaying
• awful
• disconcerting
• demoralizing
• perturbing
• appalling
• disquieting
• horrid
• distressing
• nightmarish
• atrocious
• grisly
• monstrous
• macabre
• bone-chilling
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• calming
• inviting
• consoling
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• tranquillizing
• 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
• nightmare
• shocking
• terrific
• awful
• dreadful
• horrifying
• frightening
• terrifying
• hideous
• appalling
• horrid
• scary
• horrendous
• nightmarish
• atrocious
• sickening
• ghastly
• grisly
• frightful
• monstrous
• disgusting
• macabre
• lurid
• fearful
• ugly
• alarming
• grewsome
• dire
• formidable
• obscene
• offensive
• loathsome
• deplorable
• grotesque
• revolting
• repulsive
• abominable
• direful
• disagreeable
• heinous
• abhorrent
• unspeakable
• evil
• obnoxious
• repugnant
• fearsome
• intimidating
• odious
• 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
• rotten
• wretched
• atrocious
• defective
• dismal
• lousy
• execrable
• inadequate
• sucky
• insufficient
• flawed
• lacking
• miserable
• shameful
• substandard
• punk
• deficient
• worthless
• inferior
• useless
• wanting
• mediocre
• contemptible
• off
• faulty
• reprehensible
• abominable
• low-grade
• odious
• vile
• damnable
• bum
• valueless
• fiendish
• second-rate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvellous
• 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
• worthless
• miserable
• useless
• mediocre
• shoddy
• lousy
• crappy
• execrable
• rubbishy
• bum
• cheesy
• low-grade
• trashy
• low-rent
• junky
• second-rate
• sleazy
• fake
• schlocky
• counterfeit
• shlocky
• gimcrack
• cheapjack
• trumpery
• lackluster
• shlock
• schlock
• cut-rate
• bargain-basement
• indifferent
• el cheapo
• valueless
• tawdry
• gaudy
• second-class
• meretricious
• shabby
• garish
• swanky
• showy
• kitschy
• flashy
• tacky
• glitzy
• ostentatious
• kitsch
• seedy
• swank
• splashy
• sham
• phony
• phoney
• brummagem
• ultracheap
• supercheap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples of terrible in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Technologists argue that socioemotional AI addresses problems of human performance, access and availability, which is a bit like the old joke about the guests at a Catskills resort complaining about the food being terrible—and such small portions! —Allison Pugh, TIME, 14 Aug. 2024

This may be the golden age of union labor in Kentucky despite having those terrible statutes on the books. —CBS News, 18 Aug. 2024

Luke’s determination in face of something so terrible has been completely admirable. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2024

How, many wanted to know, could such a terrible reversal occur? —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2024

Phrases Containing terrible

• enfant terrible