Definitions

horrible

[hawr-uh-buhl, hor-] / ˈhɔr ə bəl, ˈhɒr- /

ADJECTIVE

unpleasant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abhorrent abominable appalling awful cruel disgusting dreadful eerie frightful ghastly grim grisly gruesome heinous hideous horrendous horrid lousy nasty scandalous scary shameful shocking terrible terrifying

WEAK

beastly detestable disagreeable execrable fairy fearful loathsome lurid mean obnoxious offensive repellent repulsive revolting sickie ungodly unholy unkind

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attractive beautiful calming comforting delightful encouraging gentle good great happy kind magnificent nice pleasant pleasing pretty reputable soothing wonderful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kim said: "Horrible, they are so steep. An escalator would be good, as it's quite a thought to come up them."

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Horrible people acting horribly is always entertaining, to a point—the point being when the viewer recognizes he has become a voyeur.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Horrible, yet honorable: Mr. Duvall’s Meechum balanced both.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

“Road Trip” follows the 2014 film “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” which was based on Judith Viorst’s 1972 children’s book.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025

“You must like Vermeer. Horrible news about the theft, isn’t it?”

From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett

Vocabulary lists containing horrible

Beowulf vocabulary

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So Bad: Synonyms for "Awful"

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"maggie and milly and molly and may"

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