terrible

[ter-uh-buhl] / ˈtɛr ə bəl /

ADJECTIVE

bad, horrible

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abhorrent appalling atrocious awesome awful dangerous dire disastrous disturbing dreadful frightful ghastly gruesome harrowing hideous horrendous horrid horrifying serious severe shocking unfortunate unpleasant

WEAK

awe-inspiring beastly desperate dread dreaded fearful hateful inconvenient loathsome monstrous obnoxious odious offensive petrifying poor repulsive revolting rotten unnerving unwelcome vile

Antonyms

STRONGEST

beautiful calming comforting delightful fortunate good happy inoffensive lucky mild nice pleasant pleasing trivial unimportant wonderful

WEAK

great

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.

Human beings are remarkably resilient and can invent what they need even in conditions of terrible deprivation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

She imagined something terrible befalling her, and her parents discovering her mounting credit-card bills.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, who were all living together in Greenford, London, died on 13 May in what police called a "terrible tragedy".

From BBC • May 29, 2026

It’s not terrible to to do something upbeat every now and again.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

When Aunt Melissa first said those terrible things about Mom, I wanted to hate her.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Vocabulary lists containing terrible

Week 2 Vocabulary

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Spelling Practice, Unit 5

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Spelling Practice 2, Unit 8

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