Definitions

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.

What’s frustrating isn’t that the jokes are terrible.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

The family of the victim said they did not want this "terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility".

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

“How terrible it would have been,” Mr. Biswas muses in satisfaction on his deathbed, “to have lived and died as one had been born, unnecessary and unaccommodated.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

"We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility," they said.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Kiki pushed a stroller back and forth, back and forth, like if she stopped moving, something terrible would happen.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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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