EN

Synonyms for terrible

  • adjective

Most common

bad horrendous dreadful horrible severe wicked

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Awful — dreadful; causing terror, alarm and fear; awesome

bad, horrendous, dreadful, horrible, horrid, atrocious, horrific, hideous, appalling, frightening, frightful, terrific, ghastly, abysmal, tremendous, horrifying, terrifying, painful, dread, shocking, unspeakable, abominable

2. Severe — intense; extreme in degree or extent

severe, wicked, intense

Other

god forsaken, chronic, bumboclaat vulgar

Antonyms

good, excellent, awesome

All antonyms of terrible →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Dreadful; causing terror, alarm and fear; awesome

    The witch laid a terrible curse on him.

  2. adj. 2

    Intense; extreme in degree or extent.

    He paid a terrible price for his life of drinking.

Related words

Word family
terribleness terribly terrific terrify terrifying terror terrorize
Phrases
enfant terrible terrible infant

From weakest to strongest

  1. mediocre
  2. excellent
  3. awesome
  4. good
  5. terrible
  6. horrible
  7. horrific
  8. dreadful
  9. horrendous
  10. horrid
  11. atrocious

From the opposite of terrible, on the left, to its strongest synonyms, on the right.

Choose the right word

Terrible, Awful or Alarming?

Awful should not be used of things which are merely disagreeable or annoying, nor of all that are alarming and terrible, but only of such as bring a solemn awe upon the soul, as in the presence of a superior power; as, the awful hush before the battle.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • horrible Something horrible happened about three hours ago.
  • dreadful Something dreadful has happened to Miss Davidson.
  • horrendous Algeria is recovering from a horrendous experience.
  • horrid The ivy is good because it obscures those horrid cables.
  • chronic Exercise can reduce your risk of chronic disease.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
terriblerising
horriblerising
dreadfulrising
horrendousrising
horridrising
chronicrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
bad1
5 letters
dread1
6 letters
severe2, wicked2, horrid2
7 letters
intense2, painful2, chronic2, hideous3, ghastly2, abysmal3
8 letters
horrible3, shocking2, terrific3, horrific3, dreadful2
9 letters
appalling3, atrocious3, frightful2
10 letters
tremendous3, terrifying4, horrifying4, horrendous3, abominable5, bumboclaat
11 letters
frightening3, unspeakable4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (severe2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
terrible
Español
terrible
Deutsch
furchtbar
Català
terrible