horrific

adjective

hor·​rif·​ic hȯ-ˈri-fik How to pronounce horrific (audio)
hä-
Synonyms of horrificnext
: having the power to horrify
a horrific account of the tragedy
horrifically
hȯ-ˈri-fi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce horrific (audio)
hä-
adverb

Synonyms of horrific

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Examples of horrific in a Sentence

horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What followed was a horrific night of physical and mental spousal abuse, which Adams describes in searing, emotional prose. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 Recently, Wahid was the lead defense attorney in the death penalty case of a Miami man who pleaded guilty to the horrific triple homicide of his estranged wife and her two young daughters. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 Witnesses recall the horrific scene as a truck plowed through a youth soccer game in Kansas. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026 After 150 years, a single, absolutely horrific human death and 30 horse deaths over that same time period have brought no compromise on horses and city asphalt. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrific

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Latin; French horrifique, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin horrificus "inspiring awe or dread, frightening," from horrēre "to be stiffly erect, bristle, shudder, shiver" + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic — more at horror entry 1

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horrific was in 1653

Rhymes for horrific

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Browse Nearby Words

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horrific
horrifically
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Cite this Entry

“Horrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horrific. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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