Synonyms for

Horrible

Verb / ˈhɔ:rʌbʌl / Another word for horrible — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

causing horror; dreadful; very unpleasant

Synonyms & similar words

atrocious horrifying ugly frightful terrible awful dreadful disgusting revolting repulsive grim ghastly horrific appalling frightful ghoulish macabre monstrous nightmarish unpleasant unappealing unpalatable unsavory vile

Synonyms by register

Formal

dreadful terrible atrocious appalling

Informal

awful lousy ghastly yucky

Literary

baleful dire grim

Antonyms

wonderful lovely pleasant delightful agreeable charming nice

Common collocations

  • horrible accident
  • horrible smell
  • horrible experience
  • horrible weather
  • horrible crime
  • horrible mistake
  • horrible person

Word family

noun horror
adverb horribly

Usage note

Horrible is a strong adjective used to describe something extremely unpleasant or shocking. It is generally used in informal and semi-formal contexts.

Example sentences

  1. The movie was so horrible that I had to cover my eyes.
  2. The smell coming from the garbage can was horrible.
  3. I had a horrible nightmare last night.
  4. The weather outside is horrible. It's raining and windy.
  5. The taste of the medicine was horrible.

Quotes

  • It is a horrible fact that we can read in the daily paper, without interrupting our breakfast, numerical reckonings of death and destruction that ought to break our hearts or scare us out of our wits. - Wendell Berry
  • The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in. - George Orwell
  • I am not a monster, I am a human being. I have a heart and I bleed. - Henry Rollins

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