horrific

adjective

hȯ-ˈri-fik How to pronounce horrific (audio)
Definition of horrificnext
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of horrific But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The discovery of the children is reminiscent of past horrific cases of family abuse. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 This bill would omit many of the standard responsibilities for financial institutions that were put in place to protect national security after the horrific attacks of 9/11. — Richard Nephew, Fortune, 2 July 2026 To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023. — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrific
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrific
  1. gruesome
  2. shocking
  3. horrible
  4. terrible
  5. nightmare
  6. horrifying
  7. frightening
Adjective
  • Chris Brown was found liable by a Los Angeles jury on Tuesday for $13 million in the gruesome case of a dog that mauled and disfigured his housekeeper at his home in 2020.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026
  • But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • Cape Verde began this run by making a statement, producing a shocking 0-0 draw against soccer powerhouse Spain on June 15 in its first-ever World Cup match.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • And obviously, slavery was a terrible thing, and that was horrible.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Horton, who married Rickman in 2012 in a private ceremony after more than 40 years together, also told the outlet that the diagnosis had been a horrible shock to them both.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • Thank you to everyone who read or contributed to this column over the years, who reached out to me with story ideas or tips, or complimented my terrible artwork.
    — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Visitors will see his Rough Riders uniform; the 1884 diary grieving his terrible loss; and the eyeglasses case, speech and shirt from the 1912 assassination attempt against him.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • But the 22-year-old is not alone in having a nightmare individual performance on a high-profile sporting stage.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
  • This is the nightmare scenario for California Democrats.
    — Tom Charron, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of nightmare
Adjective
  • But many did not, as the 1981 episodes tell the grim tale of a young girl named Sylvia (Barash), who is raped by a stranger wearing a horrifying clown mask.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
  • Extremely scary moment on Tuesday night as A’s prospect Ryan Lasko was taken to a hospital after a horrifying outfield collision.
    — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of horrifying
Adjective
  • Spain are a more understated attacking unit, and there’s a sense that while Lamine Yamal has been excellent, there is another gear for the Barcelona 18-year-old to find, which is fairly frightening for everyone else.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • For millions of individuals and businesses who rely on professional preparers, the answer portends a frightening prospect if the return preparer is dishonest.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of frightening

Browse Nearby Words

horridness
horrific
horrifically
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Cite this Entry

“Horrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrific. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on horrific

Nglish: Translation of horrific for Spanish Speakers

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