horrible
HOR-ih-buhl
Horrible (adj) means causing horror; extremely unpleasant or shocking. Example: “It was a horrible accident that no one wanted to talk about.”
adj
1
Causing horror; extremely unpleasant or shocking.
"It was a horrible accident that no one wanted to talk about."
"The soup had a horrible taste."
"A horrible smell came from the fridge after we returned from holiday."
2
Informal: very bad or unkind.
"Don't be horrible to your little brother."
"That was a horrible thing to say to someone who is trying her best."
"My boss was horrible to me all week, and I still don't know why."
How to use horrible
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery unpleasant or shocking — used both for serious horror and, casually, for anything simply bad or unkind.
Common pairings
horrible smell
horrible weather
feel horrible
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Word forms
- Plural
- horribles
- Comparative
- horribler, more horrible
- Superlative
- horriblest, most horrible
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a _____ accident that no one wanted to talk about.
Etymology
First recorded in English around 1303, from Old French horrible/orrible, from Latin horribilis, from horrere ("to tremble") + -ibilis.
Class of 1303
horrible joined the language around 1303.
See the full Class of 1303 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for horrible
See all rhymes for horrible →Frequently asked questions
What does “horrible” mean?
The word “horrible” means causing horror; extremely unpleasant or shocking. In plain terms, very unpleasant or shocking — used both for serious horror and, casually, for anything simply bad or unkind.
How do you pronounce “horrible”?
“Horrible” is pronounced HOR-ih-buhl (/ˈhɔɹ.ɪ.bəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “horrible” in a sentence?
Here is “horrible” used in a sentence: “It was a horrible accident that no one wanted to talk about.”
What is another word for “horrible”?
Words with a similar meaning to “horrible” include frightening and bad.
What part of speech is “horrible”?
“Horrible” is an adjective.
Where does the word “horrible” come from?
The word “horrible” dates back to around 1303 and comes from Latin. First recorded in English around 1303, from Old French horrible/orrible, from Latin horribilis, from horrere ("to tremble") + -ibilis.
Is “horrible” a common word?
“Horrible” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “horrible” have?
“Horrible” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing horror; extremely unpleasant or shocking.
What is the difference between horrible and horrific?
Both describe something deeply unpleasant, but horrific is stronger and more specific, suggesting genuine horror, shock or gruesome detail — a horrific accident. Horrible is broader and more everyday, covering anything from a horrible smell to a horrible day. All horrific things are horrible, but not everything horrible is truly horrific.
What is the opposite of horrible?
Common opposites include wonderful, lovely, delightful, marvellous and pleasant. The right choice depends on context: a horrible meal becomes a delicious one, horrible weather becomes lovely or glorious weather, and a horrible person becomes a kind or charming one. Each opposite reverses the strong negative feeling that horrible carries.
Is horrible a strong word?
Yes, it is firmly negative and fairly strong, expressing that something is not merely bad but genuinely awful or distressing. It is common in everyday speech, so it can sound slightly informal, and people often soften or intensify it — 'a bit horrible' or 'absolutely horrible' — depending on how strongly they feel.
What is an example of horrible in a sentence?
You might say, 'The traffic this morning was horrible,' or 'It was a horrible thing to say.' The word attaches to almost anything unpleasant — weather, food, experiences, behaviour or news — to signal a strong feeling of dislike, distress or disgust rather than mild disapproval.
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