Cool MateHorrible vs It was awful vs Terrible
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)
Terrible
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
| Horrible | It was awful | Terrible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhɒrəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɔːrəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɔː.fəl//🇺🇸 //ˈɔː.fəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈterəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈterəbl/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very bad or unpleasant. | It was very bad or unpleasant. | Very bad or awful. |
| Example | The weather today is absolutely horrible, with heavy rain and strong winds. | The food at the restaurant was awful. | The weather was terrible during our vacation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | 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 | be, feel, look, really, truly, absolutely, for, be, feel, look, really, truly, absolutely, for, be, feel, look, really, truly, absolutely, for, be, feel, look, really, truly, absolutely, for |
| Antonyms | wonderful, pleasant, great | - | wonderful, excellent, 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!' | 'Terrible' is often confused with 'terrifying'; they mean different things., Some learners mistakenly use 'terrible' to describe good things., Often used in hyperbolic contexts, like 'That movie was terrible!' |
| 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. | Use 'terrible' when describing something that causes strong negative feelings, like bad events or poor quality. Avoid in formal writing; consider alternatives like 'dreadful' or 'atrocious.' |
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Frequently asked questions: Horrible vs It was awful vs Terrible
What's the difference between Horrible, It was awful, and Terrible?
Horrible: Very bad or unpleasant. It was awful: It was very bad or unpleasant. Terrible: Very bad or awful.
Which is more advanced: Horrible, It was awful, and Terrible?
Horrible is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
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. Terrible: The weather was terrible during our vacation.
Can I use Horrible, It was awful, and Terrible interchangeably?
Not always. Horrible, It was awful, and Terrible 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.