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Terrible Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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terrible

[ˈtɛrəb(ə)l ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling or causing great fear or dread

Causing great fear or dread; dreadful or alarming. Extremely bad or serious.

Synonyms

awful, dreadful, frightening, horrible.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
terrible

This is used to describe something very bad or unpleasant. It is a general term that can be applied to many situations.

  • She had a terrible headache
  • The weather was terrible yesterday
awful

This is often used to describe something extremely bad or unpleasant, sometimes with a sense of shock or surprise.

  • The food tasted awful
  • He felt awful after hearing the bad news
dreadful

This can be used to describe something very bad or causing great fear or suffering. It is often more dramatic than 'terrible' or 'awful'.

  • The movie was absolutely dreadful
  • She had a dreadful experience at the dentist
horrible

This word describes something causing horror or something extremely unpleasant. It can be a bit stronger and more emotional than 'terrible' or 'awful'.

  • The accident was a horrible sight
  • She had a horrible day at work
frightening

This is used to describe something that causes fear or alarm. It is generally used when the situation or thing poses a threat or seems scary.

  • The haunted house was frightening
  • It was a frightening moment when the lights went out

Examples of usage

  • The terrible storm caused widespread damage.
  • She had a terrible feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Context #2 | Adjective

of very poor quality or condition

Extremely bad or serious; of very poor quality or condition. Very unpleasant or disagreeable.

Synonyms

abysmal, atrocious, awful, horrible.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
terrible

General use for something very bad or unpleasant.

  • The weather was terrible today
  • He felt terrible after eating too much candy
awful

Commonly used to describe something very bad or unpleasant, similar to 'terrible'.

  • The food tasted awful
  • He had an awful headache
horrible

Used to describe something very unpleasant, frightening, or disgusting.

  • She had a horrible nightmare
  • The news about the accident was horrible
atrocious

Describes something extremely bad or severe, often with a sense of shock or disgust.

  • The service at the restaurant was atrocious
  • The movie was an atrocious waste of time
abysmal

Used for something extremely bad, often regarding performance or quality.

  • Her performance in the exam was abysmal
  • The team's abysmal effort led to their defeat

Examples of usage

  • The food at that restaurant was terrible.
  • The movie received terrible reviews from critics.
Context #3 | Adverb

used to emphasize the extent of something unpleasant or bad

Used to emphasize the extent of something unpleasant or bad; very.

Synonyms

exceedingly, exceptionally, extremely, very.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
terrible

Used to describe something very bad or unpleasant. Often has a negative connotation.

  • The weather was terrible yesterday
  • He felt terrible after eating too much
very

Used to emphasize an adjective or adverb. This is a more general term and is less intense compared to 'extremely' or 'exceedingly.'

  • She is very kind
  • The meeting was very important
extremely

Similar to 'very,' but with a higher degree of intensity. Can describe both positive and negative situations.

  • The road was extremely dangerous at night
  • She was extremely pleased with the results
exceptionally

Used to describe something that is much better than usual, often in a positive context.

  • He is an exceptionally talented musician
  • The dinner was exceptionally delicious
exceedingly

Used to emphasize the degree to which something is true or occurs. Typically, it has a stronger emphasis than 'very.'

  • She was exceedingly happy with the news
  • The movie was exceedingly boring

Examples of usage

  • It was terrible hot outside.
  • I felt terrible after eating all that junk food.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'terrible'

The word 'terrible' originated from the Latin word 'terribilis', meaning 'causing terror or fear'. It has been used in the English language since the 15th century. Over time, its meaning has evolved to encompass a range of negative connotations, from something causing fear to something of very poor quality. Today, 'terrible' is commonly used to describe something extremely bad, serious, or unpleasant.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,386, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.