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.

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

The commission also denounced several of Bertoli’s public Facebook posts, some of which included Peanuts and Hagar the Horrible comic strips.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2024

Bafta chair Sara Putt said: "Horrible Histories has transformed traditional ideas of what educational television should be."

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2024

"Sam," Anastasia said in a serious voice, "I have something very important to tell you. Horrible, awful news. You're going to hate it just as much as I do."

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

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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