terrible

terrible — adjective

1. extremely disappointing, upsetting, or poor in quality, to the point that it mak

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

extremely disappointing, upsetting, or poor in quality, to the point that it makes you feel unhappy or annoyed.

Example

Maja had a terrible headache and stayed in bed all morning.

collocation: terrible headache / terrible pain

The weather was terrible during our trip to the coast last summer.

collocation: terrible weather

Common collocations
  • terrible weather
  • terrible headache
  • terrible accident
  • terrible mistake
  • feel terrible
  • look terrible
  • a terrible day
  • terrible news
Synonyms
  • awful

    equally common in everyday speech; slightly less formal

  • dreadful

    more formal or literary; suggests deeper emotional impact

  • horrible

    stronger sense of disgust or shock, not just low quality

Antonyms
  • wonderful

    opposite in quality and emotional effect

  • excellent

    opposite when speaking about quality

Grammar Patterns

terrible + noun

be terrible

Usage Note

Both attributive (a terrible day) and predicative (the food was terrible) positions are equally common. This sense covers a wide range of situations: experiences, objects, feelings, weather, and results.

Common Mistakes

This is a terrible good idea.
This is a terrible idea.
terrible is an adjective, not an adverb; use 'terribly' to modify other adjectives.

2. having almost no ability or skill in a particular activity, often because of a l

2.adjectiveA2
Definition

having almost no ability or skill in a particular activity, often because of a lack of natural talent or practice.

Example

Gabriel is terrible at math and always asks his sister for help.

pattern: be terrible at + noun

Heather is a terrible cook who burns almost everything she makes.

pattern: a terrible + performer noun

Common collocations
  • terrible at
  • a terrible cook
  • a terrible singer
  • a terrible driver
  • terrible at sports
  • terrible at math
Synonyms
  • hopeless

    stronger, suggests no chance of improvement; informal

  • useless

    informal and often blunt; same level of ability

  • incompetent

    formal; describes a general lack of skill rather than one activity

Antonyms
  • skilled

    opposite in natural ability

  • talented

    opposite in having natural ability

Grammar Patterns

be terrible at + noun/gerund

a terrible + performer noun

Usage Note

Followed by 'at' + noun or gerund (terrible at sports / terrible at singing). Can also be placed before a noun describing a person's role: a terrible cook, a terrible driver, a terrible singer.

Common Mistakes

I am terrible of playing piano.
I am terrible at playing piano.
use 'at', not 'of', to show lack of ability in an activity.

3. used before a noun to emphasise the great degree or serious nature of something,

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

used before a noun to emphasise the great degree or serious nature of something, especially something negative or unwanted.

Example

Minh made a terrible mess when he tried to bake a cake.

collocation: a terrible mess

It is a terrible shame that the old library has to close.

collocation: a terrible shame

Common collocations
  • a terrible mess
  • a terrible shame
  • a terrible waste
  • a terrible mistake
  • a terrible amount of
Synonyms
  • enormous

    neutral register; emphasises size rather than badness

  • extreme

    neutral to formal; focuses on degree rather than negativity

  • huge

    informal; similar in register and function

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a terrible + abstract noun

Usage Note

Only used before a noun (attributive position), never after a linking verb. Typically informal and conversational. Common with abstract nouns such as 'mess', 'shame', 'waste', 'mistake', and 'amount'.

4. producing a strong feeling of fear, dread, or horror, especially as a result of

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

producing a strong feeling of fear, dread, or horror, especially as a result of something violent, dangerous, or shocking.

Example

The children saw a terrible sight after the storm hit the village.

collocation: a terrible sight

Tendai's uncle woke up from a terrible dream and could not sleep again.

collocation: a terrible dream

Common collocations
  • a terrible sight
  • a terrible noise
  • a terrible dream
  • a terrible scream
  • a terrible roar
Synonyms
  • terrifying

    stronger and more active; suggests immediate fear

  • horrifying

    causing shock and disgust, not just fear

  • dreadful

    formal; combines fear with a sense of foreboding

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a terrible + noun of perception

Usage Note

The original meaning of 'terrible', now less common in everyday conversation. More frequent in formal, literary, or dramatic contexts. Often paired with nouns of perception: sight, sound, noise, dream.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Terrible is the most neutral and common choice among these four, covering bad quality, unpleasantness, and seriousness in any situation. Awful is nearly identical to terrible in both meaning and everyday register — the two are often interchangeable. Dreadful is slightly more formal and often suggests a deeper emotional reaction of dread or gloom. Horrible carries a stronger sense of disgust or shock, describing things that disturb rather than merely disappoint. For example: 'The food was terrible' and 'The food was awful' both sound natural; 'The accident was a dreadful tragedy' feels more serious and solemn; 'The smell was horrible' suggests active disgust.

awful ↗dreadful ↗horrible ↗terrible ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Terrible comes from the Latin word 'terribilis', meaning 'causing terror', which itself comes from 'terrere' (to frighten). It entered English through Old French in the 1400s. The original meaning of 'causing fear' (sense 4) is the oldest recorded use; the weaker, everyday meaning of 'very bad' (sense 1) developed over time and is now the most common.