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.

It’s a real business need, sure, and it’s not a horrible idea on the surface.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

Yes, this was definitely a horrible yet interesting first date idea.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Daily Practice Cleanser and Eye Cream “After a horrible stye last fall, I’ve been obsessed with keeping my eyes clean.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

"Make sure we don't disgrace ourselves. Chelsea have got individual players who earn more than our whole squad put together. But if we can make it horrible for them... who knows."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“We will be the most horrible there is!” crowed Cassiopeia.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing horrible

Beowulf vocabulary

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

So Bad: Synonyms for "Awful"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"maggie and milly and molly and may"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!