terrible

[ ter-uh-buhl ]
/ ˈtɛr ə bəl /

adjective

distressing; severe: a terrible winter.
extremely bad; horrible: terrible coffee; a terrible movie.
exciting terror, awe, or great fear; dreadful; awful.
formidably great: a terrible responsibility.

Origin of terrible

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin terribilis, equivalent to terr(ēre) to frighten + -ibilis -ible

SYNONYMS FOR terrible

3 fearful, frightful, appalling, dire, horrible, horrifying, terrifying, horrendous, horrid.

OTHER WORDS FROM terrible

ter·ri·ble·ness, noun un·ter·ri·ble, adjective

Words nearby terrible

terrestrial planet, terrestrial radiation, terrestrial telescope, terret, terri, terrible, terribly, terricolous, terrier, terrific, terrify

Example sentences from the Web for terribleness

British Dictionary definitions for terribleness

terrible
/ (ˈtɛrəbəl) /

adjective

very serious or extreme a terrible cough
informal of poor quality; unpleasant or bad a terrible meal; a terrible play
causing terror
causing awe the terrible nature of God

Derived forms of terrible

terribleness, noun

Word Origin for terrible

C15: from Latin terribilis, from terrēre to terrify