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.

"Terrible start but the reaction to that was good," Clarke said after the game.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

Founded nearly 20 years ago by a group of friends who met at Ohio University, Everything Is Terrible was launched as a found-footage website that created wild and singular art pieces using thrifted VHS tapes.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Terrible things have happened, and may lurk, within and the vibe is very creepy, even with subtitles.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Actor Jack P Shepherd said: "Terrible to read that Debbie. Devastating news, thinking of you all," while Shobna Gulati wrote: "Sending you all the love, I'm so sorry and my deepest sympathies."

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

"However," as Deborah Cadbury notes in her excellent history of the period, Terrible Lizard, "this piece of work was not quite as original as it appeared."

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

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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