Cool MateHorrible vs It was awful
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Horrible
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
It was awful
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Horrible
| Horrible | It was awful | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhɒrəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɔːrəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɔː.fəl//🇺🇸 //ˈɔː.fəl// |
| Meaning | Very bad or unpleasant. | It was very bad or unpleasant. |
| Example | The weather today is absolutely horrible, with heavy rain and strong winds. | The food at the restaurant was awful. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, really, absolutely, quite, to, be, feel, look, really, absolutely, quite, to, be, feel, look, really, absolutely, quite, to | awful experience, awful mistake, awful weather, awful sound, awful situation |
| Antonyms | wonderful, pleasant, great | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'horrific' which describes something causing horror., Using 'horrible' to describe minor annoyances, it’s too strong for that., Mistakenly spelling it as 'horrable'. | Confused with 'awesome' - sounds similar but means the opposite., Using it in a positive context, e.g. 'It was awful day!' instead of 'It was an awful day!' |
| Usage notes | Use 'horrible' to describe something that causes strong feelings of dislike or fear. Avoid in formal contexts; consider 'terrible' as a more formal alternative. | Commonly used to describe an unpleasant experience. Suitable in informal conversations and can also be used in written commentary. |
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Frequently asked questions: Horrible vs It was awful
What's the difference between Horrible and It was awful?
Horrible: Very bad or unpleasant. It was awful: It was very bad or unpleasant.
Which is more common: Horrible and It was awful?
Horrible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Horrible: The weather today is absolutely horrible, with heavy rain and strong winds. It was awful: The food at the restaurant was awful.
Can I use Horrible and It was awful interchangeably?
Not always. Horrible and It was awful are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.