Terrible I ˈterəbl Thing Bad Adjective Experience News

• a terrible experience
• what terrible news!
• i've just had a terrible thought.
• it was a terrible thing to happen to someone so young.

terrible

1. very unpleasant; making you feel very unhappy, upset or frightened
• a terrible experience
• What terrible news!
• I've just had a terrible thought.
• It was a terrible thing to happen to someone so young.
• That’s a terrible thing to say!
• It smells terrible in here.
• It must have been terrible to witness the accident.

Extra Examples

• I thought something really terrible had happened.
• It must have been terrible for the survivors.
• Nothing very terrible happened.
• He's had a terrible shock.
• How terrible for you!
• It was the night of that terrible storm.
• Both his parents died when he was six; it was terrible.
2. causing great harm or injury; very serious
• a terrible accident
• He had suffered terrible injuries.
• I'll have to stay with her—she's in a terrible state.
• The storm was terrible and caused a lot of damage.
3. unhappy or ill
• I feel terrible—I think I'll go to bed.
• You look terrible, you'd better sit down.
4. of very bad quality; very bad
• a terrible meal
• Your driving is terrible!
• I have a terrible memory for names.
• Cyclists claim that most city streets are in terrible condition.
5. used to show the great extent or degree of something bad
• a terrible mistake
• to be in terrible pain
• The room was in a terrible mess.
• It was a terrible tragedy.
• I had a terrible job (= it was very difficult) to persuade her to come.
• You’ll be in terrible trouble if you’re late again.
• Sometimes the pain is so terrible I can't sleep.

Word Origin

• late Middle English (in the sense ‘causing terror’): via French from Latin terribilis, from terrere ‘frighten’.