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
• inferior
• deficient
• punk
• mediocre
• contemptible
• lacking
• worthless
• useless
• 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

Public shaming of this sort is terrible for the people filmed. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

The surge in immigration enforcement operations is causing the terrible conditions observed at the Miramar ICE facility to spread and worsen in other facilities that are not meant or traditionally used for immigration detention. — Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2026

Even the most terrible of terrible-sounding numbers shouldn’t take your eyes off the glorious, gauzy horizon this great salesman’s so skilled at painting. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 25 July 2026

Except that’s precisely what awards shows are terrible at — those hammy yuk-yuk sketches, or weepy maudlin moments, that struggle to celebrate the industry by interlacing the show with a theatrical insert. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026

Phrases Containing terrible

• enfant terrible