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adj Uncommon

horrendous

huh-REHN-duhs

Horrendous (adj) means Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or bad. Example: “The traffic this morning was horrendous.”

adj
1
Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or bad.
"The traffic this morning was horrendous."
"They described horrendous conditions in the refugee camp."

How to use horrendous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishVery bad indeed — often used for shocking or upsetting situations, but also loosely for anything terrible (a horrendous mess).

Common pairings
horrendous conditions horrendous mistake horrendous traffic

Word forms

more horrendous comparative, most horrendous superlative

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Fill the gap

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The traffic this morning was _____.

Etymology

From Latin horrendus, "to be dreaded" — a form of the verb horreo, "to shudder or tremble".

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for horrendous

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Frequently asked questions

What does “horrendous” mean?

The word “horrendous” means extremely unpleasant, shocking, or bad. In plain terms, very bad indeed — often used for shocking or upsetting situations, but also loosely for anything terrible (a horrendous mess).

How do you pronounce “horrendous”?

“Horrendous” is pronounced huh-REHN-duhs (/həˈɹɛndəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “horrendous” in a sentence?

Here is “horrendous” used in a sentence: “The traffic this morning was horrendous.”

What part of speech is “horrendous”?

“Horrendous” is an adjective.

Where does the word “horrendous” come from?

The word “horrendous” comes from Latin. From Latin horrendus, "to be dreaded" — a form of the verb horreo, "to shudder or tremble".

Is “horrendous” a common word?

“Horrendous” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial