Meaning & use
terrible
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Very bad or unpleasant.
Grammar: Before a noun or after a verb: a terrible day; the food was terrible.
Patterns
- terrible at something
- terrible for someone
The weather was terrible all week.
I have a terrible memory for names.
He's terrible at math.
adjectivecomparable
Causing great harm, shock or suffering.
Grammar: Used for serious events: a terrible accident.
Patterns
- a terrible accident
A terrible fire destroyed the old market.
They received terrible news.
adjectivebefore a nouninformal
Used for emphasis to mean very great or severe.
Grammar: Intensifier: a terrible mess.
Patterns
- a terrible shame
It's a terrible shame you missed the party.
The kitchen was in a terrible mess.
Word forms
| comparative | more terrible |
|---|---|
| superlative | most terrible |
Common combinations
- terrible mistake
- Quitting was a terrible mistake.
- terrible idea
- That's a terrible idea.
- look terrible
- You look terrible; get some sleep.
- feel terrible
- I feel terrible about being late.
Synonyms and how they differ
- awful
- Awful is nearly the same, but a bit more everyday and informal.
- dreadful
- Dreadful is somewhat old-fashioned and often British.
- horrible
- Horrible stresses being unpleasant or nasty.
- dire
- Dire stresses serious danger or urgency.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: terrible or terrific?
terrible vs terrific
Terrific now usually means excellent, the opposite of terrible.
Practice
Which word is closest to 'terrible' in 'We had a terrible trip'?
Choose one answer.
Awful means very bad. Fantastic and pleasant mean good, and brief is about length.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “terrible”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.