B1adjective1K

Horrible

UK /["/ˈhɒrəbl/"]/US /["/ˈhɔːrəbl/"]/

Definition

very bad or unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like

In simple words: Very bad or unpleasant.

Examples

  • The weather today is absolutely horrible, with heavy rain and strong winds.
  • She had a horrible experience at the restaurant due to terrible service.
  • The movie was so horrible that I couldn’t watch it until the end.
  • He told a horrible lie that hurt his friend's feelings.
  • The smell coming from the dumpster was absolutely horrible.

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.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'horror' — something that gives you chills is horrible.

Collocations

  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • really
  • absolutely
  • quite
  • to
  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • really
  • absolutely
  • quite
  • to
  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • really
  • absolutely
  • quite
  • to

Synonyms

  • terrible
  • nasty, obnoxious

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'.