terrible
adjective
ter·ri·ble
ˈter-ə-bəl 
ˈte-rə-
1
: extremely bad: such as
a
: notably unattractive or objectionable
terrible behavior
b
: of very poor quality
a terrible movie
c
: strongly repulsive : obnoxious
a terrible smell
2
a
: difficult
in a terrible bind
b
: formidable in nature : awesome
a terrible responsibility
c
: exciting extreme alarm or intense fear : terrifying
terribleness
noun
Examples of terrible in a Sentence
Traffic was held up by a terrible accident.
I have a terrible cold.
The service at that restaurant is terrible.
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2023, on the fiftieth anniversary of Pinochet’s coup, Boric reminded Chileans of the terrible price their country had paid, and announced a national search plan to ascertain the destinies of as many as three thousand citizens who remain missing.
—
Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
The reason that this is such an issue is because my spouse’s ex was extremely abusive and yet accused my spouse of every terrible thing under heaven during the divorce in order to get as much alimony as possible.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Words cannot begin to express how terrible that number is.
—Miami Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
When Emily and Gabriel, who now has terrible blond highlights, meet up at the Paris train station to reminisce, the show seems primed to write off an actor who no longer wants to be there.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrible
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Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
The reason that this is such an issue is because my spouse’s ex was extremely abusive and yet accused my spouse of every terrible thing under heaven during the divorce in order to get as much alimony as possible.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Words cannot begin to express how terrible that number is.
—Miami Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
When Emily and Gabriel, who now has terrible blond highlights, meet up at the Paris train station to reminisce, the show seems primed to write off an actor who no longer wants to be there.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrible
Cite this Entry
“Terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrible. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terrible
adjective
ter·ri·ble
ˈter-ə-bəl
2
a
: very great in degree
made a terrible mess
a terrible cold
b
: very bad in quality
terrible music
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