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.

And you’ve seen some horrible examples of how judges have treated their laws clerks and other staff, and that’s awful.

From Slate • May 12, 2026

“It’s like, every second word somebody’s doing a shrill horrible laugh,” he said, “and it’s nonstop through the entire piece.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

"Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible," he told reporters.

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

"We're in a horrible position right now, but we have met some fabulous people along the way," he says.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

My sister Katie and myself were very young children when this horrible deception began.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Vocabulary lists containing horrible

Beowulf vocabulary

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So Bad: Synonyms for "Awful"

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"maggie and milly and molly and may"

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