 |
| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | Latin terribilis, from terrere 'to frighten' |
| |||||||||
ter‧ri‧ble S1 W3
1 extremely severe in a way that causes harm or damage [= horrible, awful]: Their son had been injured in a terrible accident. We're worried that something terrible might have happened to Greg. a terrible storm
Their son had been injured in a terrible accident.We're worried that something terrible might have happened to Greg.a terrible storm2 informal extremely bad [= horrible, awful]: The hotel was absolutely terrible. I'd better write this down; I have a terrible memory.
The hotel was absolutely terrible.I'd better write this down; I have a terrible memory.3 making you feel afraid or shocked : There was a terrible noise and the roof caved in. She wept when she heard the terrible news.
There was a terrible noise and the roof caved in.She wept when she heard the terrible news.4 to a very great degree : You're making a terrible mistake.
You're making a terrible mistake.WORD FOCUS: bad WORD FOCUS: bad
very bad: awful, terrible, horrible, lousy informal, appalling, ghastly, atrocious, horrendous
bad, but not very bad: not very good, mediocre, second-rate, so-so, lacklustre
of bad quality: shoddy, inferior, poor quality, cheap, crummy informal
bad at doing something: be no good at something
very bad at doing something: hopeless, terrible, useless, lousy informal, incompetent
morally bad: evil, wicked, immoral, corrupt, sick, perverted, degenerate
➔ See also badWORD FOCUS: horribleWORD FOCUS: horrible
taste or smell: nasty, not very nice, revolting, disgusting, foul, unpleasant, gross informal
experience, situation, or feeling: nasty, not very nice, terrible, unpleasant
person: nasty, not very nice, obnoxious, mean American English, unpleasant, objectionable
➔ See also horrible
WORD FOCUS: bad very bad: awful, terrible, horrible, lousy informal, appalling, ghastly, atrocious, horrendous
bad, but not very bad: not very good, mediocre, second-rate, so-so, lacklustre
of bad quality: shoddy, inferior, poor quality, cheap, crummy informal
bad at doing something: be no good at something
very bad at doing something: hopeless, terrible, useless, lousy informal, incompetent
morally bad: evil, wicked, immoral, corrupt, sick, perverted, degenerate
➔ See also badWORD FOCUS: horrible
WORD FOCUS: horrible taste or smell: nasty, not very nice, revolting, disgusting, foul, unpleasant, gross informal
experience, situation, or feeling: nasty, not very nice, terrible, unpleasant
person: nasty, not very nice, obnoxious, mean American English, unpleasant, objectionable
➔ See also horrible
