terrific

adjective

tə-ˈri-fik How to pronounce terrific (audio)
Definition of terrificnext
1
as in excellent
of the very best kind you've done a terrific job on this report

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent a terrific murder that sickened even hard-bitten police officers

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 terrific The movie looks terrific, with DP Jeff Cronenweth returning to provide visual consistency with The Social Network and Alexandre Desplat’s elegant score feeding the tension without working too hard at it. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 Orlean consistently demonstrates that terrific nonfiction writing can be as absorbing as fiction. — The Know, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026 Goessling, a lifelong music obsessive who once worked in the music business, thought that was terrific. — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Willis showed his chops on terrific throws to Chris Bell and Greg Dulcich for sizable gains, and made several pinpoint passes on third down. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terrific
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrific
  1. excellent
  2. gruesome
  3. wonderful
  4. horrific
  5. great
  6. shocking
  7. superb
  8. terrible
Adjective
  • Williams aims to help build a county government that works for everyday people by lowering the cost of living, delivering excellent county services and protecting fundamental rights.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Nikko Remigio’s reputation as a return man isn’t splashy plays, but rather excellent ball security.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • Among protesters, particularly gruesome wounds suffered by some teenagers have been blamed on police riot-control weapons.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Mars Attacks, released in 1962, was a huge hit with kids, though many parents objected to the gruesome artwork of Martians eviscerating Earthlings.
    — Bob Woods, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • The pom-pom sandals at Givenchy were wonderful, fun, unexpected and exactly what fashion lovers are looking for from a spring runway show.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Expect to see rare bottles pulled from the shelves and all manner of weird and wonderful concoctions offered up from the menu and from their encyclopedic knowledge of drinks.
    — Condé Nast, cntraveler.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • There’s a slickness to the carnage that rubs uncomfortably against the film’s humanist ethos, rendering artificial (for all Shen Teng’s trembling and mouth-contorting labors) the horrific tragedies that befall its characters.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • What happened to you was horrific, and there is nothing that any of us can say today that will make this any easier.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of horrific
Adjective
  • But this is in fact the opportunity hiding inside the greatest technological acceleration of our lifetimes.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • This scandal comes as an appalling blow to the BND, and Germany as a whole, at a time of great danger.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • The series is notorious for its shocking plot twists (many of which bring dramatic, fatal ends to important characters).
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Bajaria is said to have attended the town hall that Head of Scripted, UCAN Jinny Howe held Wednesday afternoon amid the layoffs, making her exit today feel abrupt and shocking to staffers.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • The 5-foot-10, 165-pound wide receiver also has a superb sense of timing.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • These four superb films approach that reality from very different vantage points.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of superb
Adjective
  • The second storyline takes place in 2026 and concerns the murder of none other than Hal Jordan, who returned to Rushville as a social pariah after the terrible events that transpired 10 years before.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Eagles are struggling, the Cowboys look terrible, and the Giants don’t have a quarterback.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrible

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terribly
terrific
terrifically
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Cite this Entry

“Terrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrific. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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