Horrible vs Terrible

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	Horrible	Terrible
Meaning	Very bad or unpleasant.	Very bad or awful.
CEFR level	B1	A1
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
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.	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.'

Frequently asked questions: Horrible vs Terrible

What's the difference between "Horrible" and "Terrible"?

"Horrible" means: Very bad or unpleasant. "Terrible" means: Very bad or awful.

When should I use "Horrible" and "Terrible"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "Horrible" and "Terrible" the same CEFR level?

"Horrible" is at B1, "Terrible" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.